The wisdom of self control

Proverbs 25:28 ESV

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Titus 2:11-12 ESV

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,

Rev. Dwight Yoo

A life without self control is like a city without walls.

Centrality of self-control

A city with no walls is defenseless. It was open to attack by wild animals, bandits, and other problems. Lack of self control leads to all sorts of problems. The inability to hold back impulses can destroy your life. Holding a job requires self control. We don't always feel like doing work. But if we only worked when we felt like it, work would never get done well or in a timely manner. But this is not only for our jobs, but our relationships, our prayer life, our families, and other parts of our lives.

Challenge of self-control

Self control is not only vital, but incredibly difficult. We should look up to those whose lives are marked by self control.

Today's culture says that restraints and boundaries are bad. Self control is seen as repression. Society says that we should do as we feel.

Our desires are wrong. We want the wrong things. Or we want good things too much. Overeating, laziness, and others like it are excesses of those good things we want. We look to fill our spiritual desires with other things. We try to fill our spiritual thirst with other things, but we are unsatisfied. We keep clamoring for more. We end up in prisons of our own making. Unrestrained desires will ruin our lives.

Cultivating self-control

Actively managing our lives and desires leads to bountiful results. But we cannot reach self control by sheer effort. How so? Consider this, if an overweight man decides to lose weight. They pursue losing weight and finally become fit. At the end they may end up fearful of regaining weight. They are enslaved to working out, eating right, and healthy habits. They may gain workout partners, but they may lose old friends. They can't enjoy food anymore.

So how then do we cultivate it?

Cry out to God for self-control.

Set boundaries in our life with community support and accountability.

Find contentment at the feet of Christ