A
recent issue of Christianity
Today
included the article “The Science of Sinning Less” which cites various studies on
self-control. The author states, “One key recent discovery is that
self-control is an exhaustible but buildable resource.” Like a
muscle, self-control that is exercised regularly becomes stronger.
I’m not sure that’s really a new discovery, but there is truth
there. And while that is good to know, it doesn’t address the fact
that Scripture talks about self-control not just as self-effort but
as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). That led me on a search
for a description of biblical self-control and how it should work.
Here are some of the quotes I found:
David
Mathis wrote,
“True self-control is a gift from above, produced in and through us by the Holy Spirit. Until we own that it is received from outside ourselves, rather than whipped up from within, the effort we give to control our own selves will redound to our praise, rather than God’s… Ultimately, our controlling ourselves is about being controlled by Christ. When ‘the love of Christ controls us’ (2 Corinthians 5:14), when we embrace the truth that he is our sovereign, and God has ‘left nothing outside his control’ (Hebrews 2:8), we can bask in the freedom that we need not muster our own strength to exercise self-control, but we can find strength in the strength of another.”
John
Piper put it this way:
“The key to a transformed mind is the steady gaze at the glory of Jesus Christ. For that to happen, we need a double work from the Holy Spirit… We need the Holy Spirit to work from the outside in by putting before us Christ-exalting truth in the gospel, and we need the Holy Spirit to work from the inside out by humbling our hard hearts. Both have to happen.”
One
particularly helpful article was written by Ed Welch in The
Journal of Biblical Counseling.
He wrote:
“[Genuine] self-control… is not the same as relying on yourself and working up the willpower to control yourself. Instead, self-control is a gift of the Holy Spirit, through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a side effect of the fear of the Lord… The real prize is Christ Himself. So, with Jesus in view, we do those things that are important, true, and good, rather than those things that feel urgent but are ungodly… Although our cravings go deep, they are no match for the Spirit of the living God. This, of course, does not mean that the battle is over and we can ‘let go and let God.’ Rather, it means that we are now empowered to engage in the battle. As the Hebrews were promised the land, but had to take it by force, one town at a time, so we are promised the gift of self-control, yet we also must take it by force. Only the grace of God takes self-control out of the realm of hopeless self-reformation into that of great confidence that we can be transformed people.”
For
practical application, Welch suggests:
“[The] desire for self-control must be accompanied by a plan… It is one thing to make a resolution; it is something completely different to repent diligently, seek counsel, and, in concert with others, develop a plan that is concrete and Christ-centered. The heart of any plan, of course, must be Jesus Christ. Self-control is like any other feature of wisdom in that it is learned by contemplating a person… Rather than give us twelve steps on which to rely, he gives us a Person to know. As Jesus is known and exalted among us, you will notice that self-control becomes more obvious. The double cure for sin is the foundation for all change. That is, in the gospel, we have been released from both the condemnation and the power of sin.”
As
we contemplate Jesus Christ, His soon return, and the surpassing
worth of knowing Him, may we find His fruit steadily increasing
within our lives.
“For
the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live
self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting
for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all
lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession
who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14 ESV).
©
2017 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright
free from pixabay.com.
