Building Character- Self-Control
Take a breath….this is a longer one… but well worth it……
Self-control….the final and probably the most struggled with “fruit”. When we think of self-control I’m sure we all have immediate, obvious individual areas of struggle that pummel our thoughts. We each have “areas” of weaknesses that the enemy of our souls is very very aware of. And if you’ll notice, he will happily bombard our lives so as to get us to lose control in that very area of weakness. Let’s look at a couple scriptures that can surely help us grow and produce mature fruit in this area.
Luke 9:23, “And He said to them all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him DENY himself, disown himself, forget and lose sight of himself and his own interests, REFUSE and give up himself and take up his cross DAILY and follow me (cleave steadfastly to Me, conform WHOLLY to My example in living and , if needed be, in dying also).
1 Corinthians 9:25-27, “Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately (holds within limits) and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but WE do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness that cannot wither. Therefore I do not run uncertainly without definite aim. I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. BUT like a boxer I BUFFET my body, handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships and SUBDUE it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit, not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit.”
First, in the book of Luke we see Jesus urging us that there is a denying of our selves daily. Catch that. It is a constant, day after day refusal of ourselves, our own ways, our own desires, our own FEELINGS at the same time as DAILY submitting and surrending WHOLLY to Jesus and HIS ways. Then take a look at 1 Corinthians, the word buffet is defined as to strike repeatedly, to drive, force, move, or attack as if by repeated blows. The word subdue is defined as to bring under control especially by an AN EXERTION OF THE WILL.
What Jesus is teaching us here is that in order for us to run our race and fulfill our destines, we must apprehend self-control and press like an athlete who is training. Just as an athlete trains every day for that final race or match, we, as soldiers of Christ, are to train (practice daily) surrendering and refusing our earthly selves to the things and ways of this world. The scripture also tells us to drive, force, attack those weak areas of our lives and bring it under control by exertion of OUR OWN WILL! Yes, there is a “press” and “a contending for” in our achieving self-control!
As we contend, we relentlessly will encounter plenty of opportunities to practice. The enemy of our soul is happy to oblige! But practice we must! His grace is power in our weakness!! Whatever the struggle you face….impatience, anger, pride, alcohol/drugs, food, or unforgiveness, practice refusing your stubborn self! Practice daily giving yourself to God’s ways of doing things. Remember, our children and the outside world are watching. The word of God tells us that we are “…written epistles, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle (letter) of Christ.” Let’s really actually ACT like Jesus would.
Parents/Grandparents this is so vitally important in the early years of training up our children and the learning of temperance or self-control (limitations, restrictions, boundaries) is an absolute MUST!! Remind yourself continually of our command in Deuteronomy 6! If we don’t have children with self-control they turn out to be adults with no self-control….thus…. a world debased of morals, boundaries, values, and family! CLEARLY this is a sad fact these days.
Take time to teach your children self-control by saying NO!! Yes, I said….. say “NO” sometimes…in fact…a lot of the time. In Luke 13:24 where Jesus is speaking of entering the kingdom of God he says, “Strive to enter by the narrow door, force yourself through it…” . The word strive here is taken from the greek word agonizesthe. Clearly we see the word agonize tucked in here! Ya, I was laughing to! This gives me a vivid picture of a young parent unloading the cart at the check out at Target…while little Johnny demands a candy bar (of course the devil himself has placed those right at eye level for him!!!)….we must brace ourselves, strive, AGONIZE over the screeching explosion that little Johnny is soon to display because of that horrible word….NO!!!! BUT, parents and grandparents, we must train our children that there will be times of denial. If we teach them temperance and submission early on, then surely they will understand humbly submitting to their heavenly Father when they are older. Let’s work together and bring that beautiful fragrance of Christ and the character of God by exercising this Fruit of the Spirit!!
Be strong parents….May the force (the Holy Spirit) be with you!!!!
