Self Control, A Tool Of The Spirit
We all practice self-control within our lives whether we are good at it or not. It could be not reaching our hand into the cookie jar if we are trying to lose weight or having the control not to have an outburst of anger when someone cuts you off. Self-control is something that all people can practice whether they are Christian or secular. How then does a Christian practice self-control differently than a secular person?
What is self-control according to scripture? Self-control is a fruit that is given to us by the Spirit which Galatians 5 says... Self-control is understood as, “The virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially one's sensual appetites and to have a soundness of mind that is able to control itself when a temptation is placed in front of them.” *(BDAG) An example of this is a person who is gluttonous and tries not to overeat when given food. The act of them eating slower or eating smaller portions is the practice of self control.
A key distinction that we need to make with self-control is that it does not hinge upon our own wills. I simply do not just will something to happen. An example of this is if a person struggles with pornography and has the opportunity to look at a pornographic image. They could try to will themselves away from such temptations. It may work once or twice, but after a while their will becomes depleted and they will give into the temptation of the sin. Self-control is given to us by the Spirit. God does not have us rely on ourselves but has us rely on His Word and His promise to answer prayer.
Self-Control can be used to stop impulses of temptation to sin over time, with practice and discipline. A runner does not reach his goal of running a marathon by running the day before and then expecting to get the first-place prize. Paul explicitly speaks about this in 1st Corinthians, 24 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) Paul says that we practice self-control to prepare ourselves for the imperishable crown. Paul is exhorting us to have a system set in place to practice self-control, to master our desires. An example would be making prayer and reading scripture a practice of our everyday life. We master our desires and passions by the system we set up with the help of the Spirit.
So, what makes the difference between a Christian and one who is not a Christian? The non-Christian practices his own self-control for a perishable crown. The non-Christian practices self-control for his own self-worth. The Christian practices it for an imperishable crown. The Spirit has reshaped our minds from selfish desires to heavenly desires; from our baptism to our sanctified life, the Spirit works self-control to glorify God.
What better time to practice self-control than the time of Lent? In this penitential season we practice fasting and abstaining from the luxuries of life. We fast and abstain from these things which opens up time for reading more scripture and to refocus our attention on God. The fruit of Self-control is a tool that helps to curb our desires away from sin. When such desires or temptations come upon us we have been given the self-control to turn away from such things. To God be glory and praise that he has given us His Spirit so that we may practice self-control.
Vicar Hinojosa
*A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd Edition