Fruitful Contemplations: Self-Control

A tropical fruit I have very little self-control with is the custard apple. It's sweet and absolutely delicious, especially eaten chilled on a hot day!

The fruit of the spirit is... self-control.  Gal. 5:22, 23

The most challenging quality in the world is saved for Paul's final punch in his list of the fruit of the Spirit. Self-control is something every single person in this world struggles with, in some way. All I have to do is make that statement, and you're thinking of what you struggle to control in yourself. It could be a sharp temper, laziness, eating, your thoughts, a critical spirit, harsh actions, gossip, a controlling spirit, whiny words ... well, the list continues at some length, including more and less "acceptable" sins.

I thought I'd address this contemplation, then, by looking at some verses in the Bible that relate to self-control.  Here is the list, with my annotations. Come along with me:

"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control."  Prov. 25:28
Um, a pretty useless man, in other words.

"As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, 'That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.'"  Acts 24:25
Sounds like a conversation about developing self-control has always been pretty inconvenient, from ancient times until now.

"So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled."  1 Thess. 5:6
Self-control has always required alertness.  And it seems like the more distractions there are in this world, the less I feel alert.  Just too much to keep track of, too much to knock us off guard.

"But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet."  1 Thess. 5:8
How interesting that faith, love and hope are the actions of people who are self-controlled.  Hmmm.  Now why does that trio sound so familiar?  The surprise is the connection of these three to "self-control."  Have to think about that...

"People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, ...without self-control..."  2 Tim. 3:2-3
Now that I think of it, people tend to assume they're loving themselves when they let go of self-control, but in reality, the long-term effects are rarely loving to themselves.

"An overseer ...must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined."  Titus 1:7-8
And who meets that criteria?  It makes leadership look pretty much beyond anyone's abilities.

"Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in the faith, in love and in endurance."  Titus 2:2
So did old men in the apostle Paul's time struggle with intemperance, bad behaviors including lack of self-control, faithlessness, absence of love and a tendency to give up easily? Maybe that's a dramatic description, when put that way. How would those older men compare with older men now?

"Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." 1 Peter 4:7
Actually, this one makes all the sense in the world to me. I pray best when I'm clear minded and am succeeding at controlling my mind from wandering. I suppose other kinds of self-control would be beneficial as well.

"Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."  1 Peter 5:8
There it is again.  To live as a follower of Christ in this world, alertness and self-control are crucial. We are in danger of attack at any moment. This is a threatening spiritual grassland we live in, with evil, hungry eyes focused on us, and we need to focus on not giving up a minute to dull-mindedness and inattention.

And that, faithful readers, is why the fruit of living in the Spirit of Christ is so important.  We really won't survive intact in this world unless the fruit of the Spirit ripens in us, equipping us with the godly characteristics that we need in order to be citizens of this kingdom (to use a familiar metaphor).

I can't imagine that you've persisted with me through these contemplations without concluding, as I have, that you just can't produce these characteristics on your own. You need help. I need help. We are not up to the task that we face; we don't match up to the job description for those inheritors of the kingdom.

I must close this series with two more verses, verses that address that feeling of not being up to the task.  They are revolutionary statements, dissimilar to those offered by any other religious belief. These statements are themselves worthy of your time in deep thought and reflection.


Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the spirit.  Gal. 5:24, 25.

Belonging to Christ and putting our sinful nature, its passions and desires to a long, slow, agonizing death--those of us who have tried it know that's often how it feels--that's quite a thought! So is living and walking in step with God's Spirit, all the time. Never alone, never abandoned, always accompanied by One who loves us deeply and totally.

Let us live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. May that bear sweet, irresistible fruit in our lives!