“When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you possess a large appetite.”
Proverbs 23.1-2
In some situations, extreme self-control is necessary, especially in those areas where we are weakest. If not, others will take advantage of us.
The first step to such self-control is to “consider carefully.” We must evaluate situations objectively, not emotionally. Otherwise, our passions will be our downfall.
“Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse,
but the one who guards himself keeps far from them.”
Proverbs 22.5
Righteousness saves a person from many a heartache and problem. Those who disregard God do not have a carefree life.
What “thorns and snares” have you been spared from? What does it mean to guard oneself?
“Sometimes congregations apply the policy of appeasement toward those who desire to be first. Believing that problems and strife will end by make the one who needs to be first part of the leadership, the congregation will place him in the position of elder or deacon. And in every case, disaster happens. The qualifications for the elders, deacons, and evangelists state that a person must be self-controlled, placing the interests of the Christians and the congregation above their own. We must be very careful not to give a position to a person who acts like they need to be heard and need to be first.” —Brent Kercheville
Brazil has zero tolerance for alcohol levels in drivers. It understands what many Christians do not. If a government (and Brazil is not the only one) knows that any level of alcohol in the blood makes one unfit to drive his vehicle, why does a Christian think that some amount of alcohol in his system does not render him unfit to guide his life?
Self-control must be practiced in good and right things: (1) eating, (2) pleasure, (3) work, and (4) sleep. Self-control must be practiced as Christians completely abstain from: (1) fornication, (2) lying, (3) gambling, (4) drunkenness, and (5) stealing.
Christians must control their temper. “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29).
The tongue must also be controlled by Christians. “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless” (James 1:26).
We need Jesus! God bless you today and always. I love you.
Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ
Here’s a link to the latest PDF issue of the Christian Worker.
Here are the topics that you will find:
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Even though I’m not a fan of that foot-loose and fancy-free paraphrase called The Message, I happened across a couple of items in it I thought were good.
Mr. Peterson, the author of the work, describes patience, in Galatians’ fruit of the Spirit, as “a willingness to stick with things,” and self-control as being “able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”
Those seem to be fairly good depictions, the latter one especially, as far as they go.
Also, from the two descriptions, it’s possible to see that a relationship exists between the two.
How would you qualify these descriptions of the two qualities that the Spirit of God produces in the saint?
By Charles Box — As Christians we should be thankful that we have government. Government is “the group of people who officially control a country.” As Christians a part of our prayers should be for government. Paul wrote by inspiration of God, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Government exists for three basic purposes. First, government exists to protect the sacredness of human life. We were made in the image of God and therefore human life is precious. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26-27) Early on in man’s history God showed the responsibility of government in protecting human life “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” (Genesis 9:6) Continue reading
If you’ve ever had a rash, your experience may have gone something like this: you notice yourself scratching at the irritated part of your skin and it dawns on you that it’s been itching a lot. You realize the rash is there. You put cream of some kind on it to treat it and make a conscious effort not to scratch it. Your concentration on not scratching it makes it itch more. You hold yourself back, but your self control eventually breaks down and you scratch feverishly until it attains that raw, hot, yet strangely soothing painful sensation that you know deep down means it’s going to be twice as bad tomorrow. You’re relieved for a moment, yet you know that you’ve done the worst thing you could have done to it.
Sin is sort of like that.
Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)
For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want…. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:19,24-25)
Lord, give us the self control to let Your Spirit dictate our actions when we are in the throes of temptation.
Read my editorial for Monday for Forthright.net: Nudges Toward Self-Control. http://is.gd/51PCN
I suspect that there may be some comments about how to understand the appearance of all those items on self-control.