Self-Control

Immediately before Paul’s list of the virtues of the Fruit of the Spirit he lists what he calls ‘works of the flesh.’  This list contains: sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, envy, drunkenness and orgies.  This list of behaviors shows a humanity that is ‘out of control.’ (Gal 5.19-21)
 
If the life of the non-Christian is marked by ‘out of control’ behavior it makes sense that the life of the Christian influenced by the Holy Spirit is marked by self-control.  In fact in 2 Peter 1.5-9 there is a list of qualities that every Christians should seek to add to our faith and ‘self-control’ is one of them.
 
When Paul speaks about self-control he is thinking much (though not exclusively) about sexual self-control.  It is the first and last in his list of ‘out of control’ behaviors.  Paul also names it regularly in his other lists of sinful behavior (1 Cor. 5.9-11, Eph. 5.3-7, Col. 3.5-10).   I can imagine Paul would have thought highly of Joseph fleeing Potiphar’s wife who tried to seduce him.  Likewise, Paul would have been disappointed with King David’s treatment of Bathsheba whom he saw bathing.  King David’s lack of self-control led to his family disfunction for generations to come.  Brothers killed half-brothers. Brothers raped half-sisters. It was an ugly mess.  Very little destroys lives so thoroughly as lack of sexual self-control.  It is also incredibly important to note that resisting sexual temptation falls under the need for ‘self-control.’  It wasn’t Bathsheba’s fault David couldn’t control his lust.  It was David’s responsibility to exercise the control Joseph did.  Likewise, when sexual temptation arises we cannot blame our circumstances (rocky marriage) or the view (skimpy clothing) or technology (accessible porn) for our sin.  We must add self-control to our faith.  The responsibility is ours and ours alone.
 
But that isn’t the only place where self-control is destructive.  James writes quite eloquently about how untamed tongues can light fires that destroy entire communities (James 3.3-10).  Nothing will bring down VCRC more quickly, cause family strife more surely or create toxic work environments more thoroughly than un-controlled tongues criticizing, judging and gossiping.
 
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit grant us the discipline of self-control.