Self Control is Fundamental

“Never did a great man produce so little,” wrote William Barclay in describing the life of the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834).

Barclay further substantiated his charge writing, “He left Cambridge University to join the Army; he left the Army because he couldn’t rub down a horse; he returned to Oxford and left without a degree.”

“He began a paper called The Watchman which lived for ten numbers then it died. It has been said of him: ‘He lost himself to visions of work to be done, that always remained to be done’. Coleridge has every poetic gift, but one–the gift of sustained and concentrated effort.”

“Coleridge is the supreme tragedy of indiscipline,” concluded Barclay.

The opposite of this vice is the virtue of self-control. It is fundamental to our faith. Peter said so in the listed ladder of virtues in 2 Peter 1:5-9.

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

This quality is included among the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

The adjective form of this word is used in Titus 1:8 as one of the qualities for an elder. He must be self-controlled.

The apostle Paul uses the verb form of the word, translated “temperate” in some versions, in comparing the Christian life to the discipline and training exercised by an athlete. “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”

Self control is “the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sexual appetites.” Barclay says that self-control “is the ability to take a grip of one’s self.” It is a virtue of which ancient Greek writers often spoke and wrote. Aristotle defined self control as the ability to subjugate our passion to reason.

The old KJV renders the word temperance. The Message translates it discipline. Barclay uses the term “self-mastery.”

Theologian Douglas Moo defines it as “the ability of the human being to act entirely of one’s own free will without being subject to the whims and pressures of other people, competing philosophies, or one’s own emotions.”

Leadership guru, John Maxwell once defined self control as “the choice of achieving what you really want by doing things you don’t really want to do.”

The virtue of Self-Control has application in every area of our lives. Mentally. Emotionally. Physically. Relationally. And spiritually.

Self control…

…regulates what we read.
…governs our thoughts.
…curbs the lusts of the flesh.
…supervises what we watch on TV.
…restricts our surfing on the internet.
…limits wasting time.
…bridles the tongue.
…deters anger, wrath, and clamor.
…subordinates emotional impulses.

Furthermore, Self Control…

…enables us to set priorities and follow through on what is most important
…promotes positive action.
…improves work ethic.
…enhances relationships.
…produces sound fiscal stewardship.
…values time.
…exercises its talents, gifts and skills.
…seizes opportunity.
…builds character.

Finally, the words of the wise man in Proverbs 25:28 ring true when self-control is not developed.

Whoever has no rule over his own spirit
Is like a city broken down, without walls.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman