Self-Control

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22 – 23, NASB).

Today we come to the last entry in our series on the characteristics of love. That characteristic is self-control; something which seems to be in short supply in the western world where pleasure ranks high on our list of priorities. We love to eat delicious unhealthy food now, but will suffer poor health later. We buy things we desire now, but suffer the enslavement of debt later. We seek the gratification the world can give us now and ignore the gifts God wants to give us, which are life fulfilling. We are deceived into thinking that comfort now must be gained at all cost, not realizing or ignoring how much we will suffer later. The current hardship and suffering in America is a good example of this. The enjoyment of what we couldn’t afford has placed us in a debt we can’t get out of and is causing the transfer of our wealth to foreign countries who may one day enslave us.

We show our love for God by obeying him, not our desires. “Self-control is the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially, his sensual appetites” (net.bible.org), and is not a natural characteristic of humans. Our ability for self-control is found in our love for God. The deeper we abide in his love and focus on him, the greater will be our desire and ability to gain self-control. This is seen in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (NASB). I am to die to self; to abstain from things not necessary in favor of gaining Christ and all he has to offer.