Fruit of the Spirit Self-control: While self-control might sound like a call to perfection, at its core self-control values the gospel more than our desires of the moment.
Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control Key Points
- Self-control is choosing to limit myself to follow God.
- Self-control is not being flawless in speech and action.
- As an example, Paul was willing to limit his freedoms for the sake of the gospel.
- At its core, self-control recognizes we shouldn’t do everything we want to do.
- Self-control acknowledges we need to decide not to act on some desire, thought, or passion.
- Self-control is humbling myself before God and trying to live within His boundaries.
- Self-control is denying myself something I want because God says I can’t have it now or it would be wrong to take it.
- Self-control is limiting our behavior because of what we believe to be true.
- Word: Strong’s G1466.
- Passages: Acts 24:24-27; 1Corinthians 9:19-27; 2Peter 1:2-8.
Summary
Self-control refuses to act on a desire for a reason. It’s not a blanket denial of the body like the medieval monks used to practice. Rather, we believe what God says is true. We recognize He has a time and place for our desires and we seek to live within the boundaries He established.
Self-control as a fruit of the Spirit is different from the self-control of non-believers. Many in the world recognize self-control pays off. Look at the biographies of almost any famous rock band. They learned the hard way that unrestrained freedom leads to illness, heartache, and despair. That kind of self-control may be a hard lesson learned, but it’s not a fruit of the Spirit.
Another kind of self-control is the kind valued for religious reasons. The Pharisees are a great example. They denied themselves in various ways and followed many rules and rituals for religious purposes. The Pharisees were proud of their self-control. Legalistic self-control is also not a fruit of the Spirit.
Self-control as a fruit of the Spirit is based on our understanding of the gospel. The gospel becomes more compelling than our various desires. Sin no longer motivates us like it used to. Thanks to the Spirit, we are becoming people who seek what God values because we believe what God says is true.
Jesus says in the Beatitudes that blessed hunger and thirst for righteousness. We limit ourselves to gain holiness. We view the restrictions God puts on us as freedom, not slavery. We choose to restrict ourselves because we would rather follow God.
Paul is not saying we should expect to stop sinning at some point in our lives. Paul is not saying we will never lose control or get angry or do something wrong. He’s contrasting people who indule because they reject God with people limit themselves because they trust God. Self-control is the road to true freedom.
Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.
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Series: Fruit of the Spirit
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Season 24, episode 11