"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
[Galatians 5:22-23 NASB95]
Self-control is one of the quickest, easiest, and most obvious ways to self-diagnose whether one is being led by the spirit or the flesh. When is the last time you’ve seen someone in a rage and thought, “Now there’s someone led by the spirit!”? When we give into lust and passion it is instantly obvious we are seeking to satisfy the flesh and not the Lord.
Consider the deeds of the flesh. How many of them are directly related to, and obviously demonstrate, and lack of self-control? From Galatians 5:19-21 I’ll embolden the ones that stick out to me. See if you agree. "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." [Galatians 5:19-21 NASB95] That’s a pretty significant number, and I think a good case could be made for most of the others as well, but I stipulated from the outset I was only marking the relatively universal obvious ones.
Likewise, consider how key self-control is related to, and obviously demonstrated in, the various fruit of the spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." [Galatians 5:22-23 NASB95] That pretty much covers all of it; doesn’t it? 🙂
No wonder self-control is listed as a fruit of the spirit, and perhaps book-ends this list with love as both are so key and vital to all others! A Christian who is not working on growing and maturing in the virtue of self-control is not really seeking the Fatih of Christianity in sincerity and truth, and in honor and reverence to God. It’s not about living self-control perfectly so as to be deserving of heaven (if you are a Christian you have already admitted you have failed at that), it’s about living self-control so as to honor your Lord, His sacrifice, and His gospel! Rather than you living for the flesh for your selfish sinful pleasure, you are living to be pleasing to the Lord and honor and glorify Him!
I know you have probably failed an innumerable number of shameful times to possess self-control. Dont’ consider it failure so as to lose hope, so as to quit. Use them as learning experiences to help you do better and grow closer to the Lord. If you are learning and growing from those mistakes, and seeking God’s wisdom and grace and strength to grow and do better, and working to possess self-control then you are doing the Lord’s will in that. In that effort, you are walking according to the spirit! Don’t give up!
I really appreciate the statement about self-control as a bookend to the fruit of the spirit. The other bookend that rules our lives as Christians is love. Thank you for this blog today. My heart is troubled but this will get me through my day!