Self-Control

The first mark of maturity we looked at last week is described using words like understanding, wisdom and discernment. The mark we want to identify secondly is described using words like discipline, self-control and delayed gratification.

The first mark principally involves the mind. This second mark, though obviously involving the mind, focuses more on our bodies.

We discipline our children when they are young in hopes that as they grow they will have more and more self-discipline. When it comes to spiritual growth the same holds true. Being in full control of oneself is a major mark of maturity.

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.” 1Thess 4:3,4

Delayed gratification is a vital aspect of this. It is the trait that works hard and endures short term pain for long term gain.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Heb 12:11

Discipline is training. It is through discipline that we advance towards maturity. The discipline of the athlete is used in Scripture to illustrate the point. (See for example 1Cor 9:24-27)

Paul told Timothy “Train yourself for godliness.” (1Tim 4:7) and the word he used is the Greek word ‘gymnazo’.

We talk about the physical disciplines of an athlete and the spiritual disciplines of a disciple of Christ. Either way, it is largely a matter of self-control. And self-control is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Paul’s list in Galatians 5 where he names 9 different things. Paul lists self-control last there, but in the Greek construction, putting something last was a way of emphasizing it, similar to placing it first. Placing something at the end of a list would indicate that it was surpassed in importance only by that which was placed first. And, you may be aware that the virtue placed at the beginning of that passage is love.

I would encourage you to do a study of the NT letters on this one compound word - ‘self-control’. I think you might be surprised just how often it occurs and how prominent it is. Paul talks about it, Peter talks about it, James talks about it, John talks about it. And most of them talk about it on numerous occasions and often extensively and in emphatic terms. Seriously, check it out. You’ll be amazed. And when you compound that with the number of synonyms used along with it to communicate the same concept, a fuller picture of a major NT doctrine emerges.

Think about what this all means to us who live in such a permissive age; a day when we are encouraged to let ourselves go and indulge in whatever pleasures we desire with little if any restraint. And it’s all made available to us by the world in a way unimagined by our forefathers for sure. But as Peter says …

“They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity, for people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 2Pet 2:19

Without self-control we will eventually, if not immediately, crash and burn.