If patience is the most difficult Spirit fruit to incorporate in our faith lives, then self-control is probably the second-hardest. In this final analysis of the Fruits of the Spirit impact on our seven-day practical faith, I will present the battle lines, guidelines, and power lines of self-control, in each case referencing the writings of the Apostle Paul.
The battle lines of self-control are established by Paul's lament in Romans 7:15-21 (NIV):
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
Paul tells us that sin is part of our existence. Our knowledge is not enough to overcome it. Neither is our will nor our experience. Even if we have done wrong in the past, we repeat the mistake.
The idea of evil being nearby brings us to the analogy of the devil and angel perching on each shoulder, whispering into our ears as to what to do. While it's a ridiculous picture, at the same time, that pretty much is the way that sin works. We need to make sure we listen to God's side of the story.
Scripture offers us guidelines for self-control, but I want to boil down to two points: vigilance and something better. Martin Luther wrote, "We can't keep the birds from flying over our heads, but we can keep them from building a nest in our hair." This means that temptation comes to all of us, but we don't have to accept it as a permanent companion. Think about it: A bird wouldn't plop a pre-made nest in our hair; the bird would build the nest one twig at a time. Similarly, temptation often weakens us one "twig" at a time. We must be vigilant to remove the twigs without letting them accumulate.
Paul offers another guideline: Focus on something better than sin or temptation. He writes in Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV):
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
We attain peace rather than the results of sin when we focus on what is good and practice those things.
The power lines of self-control mean that we don't have to fight sin on our own. The Spirit is beside us. Paul offers a model to consider in Ephesians 6:13-18 (NIV):
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
We are not alone in our desperate attempt at self-control. Father, Son, and Spirit all contribute to help us in our weakness and draw us closer.
I'll end with the same advice with which I started the series. To be filled with the Fruits of the Spirit, we must draw closer to the Spirit. We must listen better. We must live with the Spirit each day and allow the Spirit to mold us. Gradually we will see the blossoming flowers that lead to fruit within us that we can practice in our faith lives.
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