Pursuing the Fruits of the Spirit: Self-Control

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (self-control). Galatians 5:22-23

There are countless ways in which we can choose to exhibit self-control, most of which are obvious.  It is also apparent that pursing self-control is indeed an active choice.  When you drink alcoholic beverages, smoke, take drugs, swear, have sex outside of marriage, cheat, lie, steal, gamble, etc., you must first make the conscious decision to go against God’s laws.

Let’s look at the verses directly before the above scripture that speaks of the fruits of the Spirit:

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish... Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:16-21

Can it be any more clear that our works do indeed matter?  If you do not exercise self-control and “practice such things [you] will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  When we pursue the Holy Spirit and His purity, when we make a daily choice to “walk in the Spirit,” it is so much easier to live a life of righteousness than when we try to rely on our own strengths.  Human nature is carnal and wants to please only itself.  But when we remember that there are consequences to our actions that will hurt others, it is easier to say “no” to the sins of the flesh. 

God does not expect us to live a dull life, He specifically designed us to enjoy pleasure, but we must do so within the laws He designed to protect not only us, but others as well.  For example, sex outside of marriage creates diseases, unwanted pregnancies (which can lead to the murder of an innocent baby), broken marriages, etc.  Yet, sex within marriage is a fun, beautiful, bonding experience and enhances married life.  Before you choose not to exhibit self-control, stop and think of how your actions will most likely hurt someone else and remind yourself of how you would feel if you were on the other side of an affair, a theft, a lie, gossip, etc.   

We are all faced with many temptations throughout our lives. There are too many to name, some of which I am sure I am not even aware.  God, however, knows our weaknesses and The Bible promises that He will always give us many opportunities to escape all temptations, and thus exercise self-control. 

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. I Corinthians 10:13

All one needs to do is walk away.  It really is that simple.  Better yet, do not even get to the place where you need an escape.  You would not intentionally walk across four lanes of heavy traffic at night in a big city wearing all black, so why would you put your walk with the Lord at risk. For example, if you are addicted to pornography, turn off the Internet and television and do not pick up filthy magazines.  If you are so tempted that you cannot even turn on the Internet without going to the ungodly sites, cancel your Internet service. 

Other than simply walking away from the things and people that tempt us, we need to pray a wall of protection against our family and ourselves.  When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He told them they should ask to be kept far away from unholy enticements.  Remember to ask God to keep you from evil every day and be proactive by pursing self-control and walking away when you know it is the best course of action. 

For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.   Matthew 6:8-9 & 13

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Matthew 26:41

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. II Timothy 3:3-7

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; or so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter 1:5-11