Articles
Developing Self-Control - 1
A good brother was recently tasked with teaching a study on self-control. He writes, “I can easily show from the scriptures the need for, and importance of, developing self -control, but very few passages that say HOW a Christian is to develop self-control … Thoughts?”
Assuming that self-control is an element of character we all struggle with, perhaps the same question has crossed your mind. How do I obtain self-control, especially when it seems that I need it in order to develop it?
Some issues, this being one of them, are not presented in a single verse, Step 1, 2, 3 format. The challenge is to draw valid inferences from related concepts and make application of generic principles and even historical examples. So, what perspectives have a bearing on developing self-control?
Keeping Our Eyes on the Goal. Paul turns to an athletic analogy in 1 Cor 9:24-27 to stress the importance of self-control. He says the athlete “competes for the prize … to obtain a perishable crown.” He is confident that his readers, who were well-acquainted with, if not having attended the biennial Isthmian Games, understood the sacrifices and self-discipline needed to achieve victory. The athlete is “temperate in all things,” “who in preparing themselves for the games abstained from unwholesome food, wine, and sexual indulgence” (Thayer).
Paul uses a “how much more” comparison in making application to the spiritual realm: “They do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” Thus having his conscious thought centered squarely on the goal (salvation, cf. 9:22-23), Paul determined not to let anything control him that threatened that goal (“All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” – 1 Cor 6:12). So, self-control is the natural outgrowth of a mindset so focused on heaven that it will resist any detracting purpose or pleasure, sinful or otherwise. (Cf. also Col 3:1-4; Rom 8:18; Phil 3:8 – “count them as rubbish,” “them” being the advantages that he formerly enjoyed as an ambitious rising star among the Pharisees – 3:4-7).
Love for God and Christ. When Jesus was badgered to identify the greatest command, He began with, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mt 22:37). A mere slavish subservience to God is not adequate to help us develop self-control. We may abstain from certain things that are not a particularly difficult challenge for us, but when we encounter strong temptations or need to address the interesting distractions that capture our attention, we often fail to find the strength needed to resist or control ourselves.
However, when we truly grasp the reasons to love God and Christ, we find strength in not wanting to disappoint or fail them. This love comes through in Paul’s great declaration of devotion to Christ: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal 2:20).
We also hear it echoed in Paul’s reflections to Timothy: “And I think Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man … And the grace of our Lord Jesus was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus [who] came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all long-suffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” (1 Tim 1:12-16).
How can we be unmotivated, indifferent and lazy in view of what God and Christ have done to save our souls? Self-control grows out of a true apprehension of what we owe our Creator and Savior.
Genuine Concern for Others. Jesus continued in His answer to the lawyer, “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as your-self.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Mt 22:39-40). In Rom 14 and 1 Cor 8-10 Paul deals at length with a particular application of this neighbor-love. Rather than indulge our every desire, even those in the realm of personal liberty, Paul instructs us to consider the impact this may have upon those of a weak conscience. That love, Paul says, should cause us to develop self-control by denying our own pleasure so that others may be supported in their faith. Paul says, “If food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble” (1 Cor 8:13).
Blending love for our brother together with our love for Christ Paul adds, “And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ” (ibid vs. 11-12).
