Self Control

Fruits of the Spirit, Part 11

Aug 07, 2024

All posts in the Fruits of the Spirit Series

Once again here are the fruits of the Spirit as defined in Galatians 5.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) {emphasis mine}

Self Control in All Things

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:2-8) {emphasis mine}

We serve an awesome, loving God, who has given believers “His divine power” and “has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.” This divine power includes self-control in all things.

God calls us to apply “all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.” I would argue that self-control aids in our diligence of all of these traits.

It takes self-control to live a life of moral excellence.
It takes self-control to study and gain knowledge.
It takes self-control to persevere in difficult and especially uncomfortable situations.
It takes self-control to live in a godly manner.
It takes self-control to always show brotherly kindness.
It takes self-control to show love to those who are not loving.

God promises that if we diligently seek these things, he will “render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” If God considers us fruitful, we are fruitful indeed.

Following the Master’s Plan

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) {emphasis mine}

One thing I noticed in this passage was that we need to “exercises self-control in all things,” but it then gives more information “I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air.” We need to have self-control in a wise and functional way.

A number of years ago I had an employee that was a good parts salesman. He knew motorcycle parts very well and had a clientele that would seek him out. When our parts manager left, we decided to promote him to manager even though we had some concerns (mostly he thought he knew everything and didn’t listen well to instructions). We ended up having to fire him for not doing what he was supposed to do and not getting everything done. He responded that he worked harder than everyone else. He did work hard, but because he didn’t follow instructions and processes, he had to work twice as hard to do half as good of a job.

In the same way, we need to listen to God’s commands and plan, so we can work smart instead of hard. We will never get the full benefit of self-control until we follow the Master’s plan. This way, “I myself will not be disqualified.”

Like a trampled spring and a polluted well
Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory.
Like a city that is broken into and without walls
Is a man who has no control over his spirit. (Proverbs 25:26-28) {emphasis mine}

There are many things over which we must have self-control. We must have self-control when pressured by the wicked. We must have self-control to not overindulge our appetites or our pride. Most of all we must have self-control over our spirit.

Slow to Anger

One of the two areas that most of us most need self-control is with anger. When people are foolish, mean, selfish, accusative, etc. we take personal insult and return the same. This is not the way God wants us to behave. We must have the mind of Christ and consider others.

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. (Proverbs 16:32)

Are you mighty enough to rule your spirit and control your anger?

A fool always loses his temper,
But a wise man holds it back. (Proverbs 29:11)

Are you wise enough to control your temper?

A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,
But a fool is arrogant and careless.
A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of evil devices is hated. (Proverbs 14:16-17)

Are you cautious to control your temper so you are not tempted to act foolishly or in an evil manner just like those who made you angry?

He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.
A tranquil heart is life to the body,
But passion is rottenness to the bones. (Proverbs 14:29-30) {emphasis mine}

This last verse has the key to controlling your temper and not acting in anger. Do you see it? “A tranquil heart is life to the body.” How can we have a tranquil heart? We can have a tranquil heart by knowing God’s purpose and His plan and knowing that His plan will be completed. We can have a tranquil heart by knowing what Jesus did for us. We can have a tranquil heart by following Jesus’s example. A tranquil heart leads to self-control, and self-control leads to a tranquil heart.

Tame the Tongue

The other area in which we most need self-control is with our words. How often do we speak before we think and then regret our words?

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.
See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. (James 3:1-10) {emphasis mine}

This passage says that the most difficult thing to control is our tongue. If we are able to use self-control with our words, we can have self-control in every other way. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we succeed in controlling our words.

He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent. (Proverbs 17:27-28)

This passage has two main points. “He who restrains his words has knowledge.” I like the analogy someone came up with that God gave us two ears and one mouth because we should listen at least twice as often as we speak. Listening can help us learn things we need in life. Listening can also help us understand others. When we understand where they are coming from, it is easier to sympathize with them instead of getting angry with them.

“If you notice in the passage, it also says “Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise.” Sometimes the wisest thing to do is to say nothing. Yes we are called to stand up for the truth, but the old saying, “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all,” is used so often because there is truth in it. I’m not saying that we are never to point out sin if it might hurt a person’s feelings or hurt our relationship with them, but if we are going to correct someone, it does need to be said in a nice (loving) way. If we aren’t able to do this, it might be best to say nothing.

It is also critical that if we are going to correct someone, we had better make sure we know what we are talking about. I’ve seen so many times when a person is an expert in one area, they talk like they are an expert in every area, even those in which they know practically nothing. When they do so, the areas they are knowledgeable in may be assumed to be just as foolish. I’ve also noticed there are two people who are most certain they are right: the person who is known as the subject matter expert and the person who knows so little that they don’t have any idea how much they don’t know.

The answer is twofold: study so you are as knowledgeable as possible and don’t talk as an expert in areas you haven’t spent extensive time studying. I know holding your tongue can be difficult when you feel passionately about something, but make sure it isn’t only passion speaking. You don’t want to “open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

Render us Fruitful

In conclusion I’m returning to the passage we started with (or most of it).

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:5-8) {emphasis mine}

We are to seek the fruits of the Spirit with “all diligence.” Also, knowledge leads to self-control, which leads to perseverance, which leads to godliness, etc. We have a progression in our faith and the fruits of the Spirit.

Best of all is this, “if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful.” Make sure not only self-control, but all of the fruits of the Spirit “are yours and are increasing,” so you will no longer be “useless nor unfruitful.” Grow in faith. Study the Bible. Obey God’s commandments. Allow the Spirit to use you for the glory of God. Show the world all that God has given to those who trust Him and obey Him. Do not be unfruitful.

Trust Jesus.

your sister in Christ,

Christy

FYI, See all of the posts in my fruits of the Spirit series based on Galatians 5

Bible verses are NASB (New American Standard Bible) 1995 edition unless otherwise stated

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