Proverbs 25:28. A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
It was both foolish and shameful for a city to stand without walls. You might remember that when Nehemiah led a return of the Babylonian exiles to Jerusalem, one of the first things they did was to work on repair the wall around the city. The purpose of the wall? To keep out the hordes of enemy attackers that would love to conquer the heart of the nation.
In the same way we must defend our hearts against the Enemy’s attacks. How? By building a wall of self-control.
Those who live in consumeristic cultures (like America’s) have a very difficult time with self-control. The gospel of instant gratification is preached to us on the screens and in the shopping centers that surround us. We view all waiting and withholding only as a restriction of our freedom and happiness. Do you want it? You should have it. And this is not only about consumer goods. It’s about everything that we believe can and should make us happy. Emotional responses. Getting angry is my right. Lustful desires. I deserve it. Withholding forgiveness. They don’t deserve it.
These are the responses of the person without self-control. This person lives primarily from their feelings without faith in God and his love and mercy.
The word self-control used in today’s proverb, literally says “rule over his spirit.” In the Old Testament the spirit is the volitional part of man. The spirit responds and takes action. Even when God the Holy Spirit would come upon people in the Old Testament it was for a specific action. Samson fighting the Philistines, or Bezalel building the Tabernacle. The person who can’t or won’t rule over their spirit is the person who refuses to rule over their actions and reactions.
Our choices do not define us, this is true. But we must define our choices. That’s what self-control does. That’s what union with Christ does. This is why Paul lists self-control as a Fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us control over our own spirit? Yes, that’s right. God’s Spirit joins with your spirit to declare that you are a child of God (Rom. 8:14-17). You are one spirit with Christ (1 Cor. 6:17). The result? Spirit-control. Self-control. Same thing.
Christian, self-control is possible. Not only is it desirable, it is do-able. By the Spirit of Christ in us we can control our own spirit. We can submit our choices and actions to Christ Jesus. Jesus wants his followers to be loving and holy, and self-control makes this possible. Jesus wants to live his loving and holy life through us, and self-control gives Christ the control he needs to do this.
The good news is that in Christ you have self-control because you ARE Spirit controlled. Never separate the two. Receiving from the Spirit the love of Jesus and the holiness of Jesus IS to receive his control. Following the Spirit into the love of Jesus, and the holiness of Jesus IS now our self-control.
You: Are you self-controlled?Have you seen yourself lack self-control in any specific area of life?
You in Christ: How does our union with Christ give us the self-control that we need?
Christ in you: Is there a bad habit that you need to break by the grace of God? What do you need to believe about yourself in Christ in order to begin breaking it?
Pray: Father, I don’t always use the self-control that you have placed in me by the Spirit. Teach me to trust his leading, but first to receive his love. Amen.
To Live is Christ 