What is Self-Control?
What is self-control? The simplest definition is to control yourself, to have a grip on your own fleshly desires or impulses. We often have this misconception that self-control comes from ourselves. In reality though. the control does not come from yourself, but it is actually the “self that has to be controlled. Self-control, then, is a battle between the “self” (your flesh) and the Spirit. If the flesh is winning, you don’t have self-control (your “self” is not controlled. If the Spirit is winning, then you are exercising self-control. From this, we can conclude that self-control is actually Spirit-controlled. How much you allow the Holy Spirit to control your life is how much self-control you have.
Why is self-control important?
Proverbs 25:28 reminds us, “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” In ancient times, cities were protected with walls. So self-control serves as our defense, as our wall against enemy attacks. If we don’t have self-control, we become defenseless and susceptible to the attacks of the enemy. Self-control is also the gateway that moves us into experiencing all the other fruit of the Spirit. You cannot be kind or have patience if you don’t have self-control. You also cannot have real joy or peace if something in your life is out of control.
How do we exercise self-control?
First, resist the enemy. James 4:7 tells us, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” In the book of Genesis, Joseph resisted the sexual advances of Potiphar’s wife by fleeing from the temptation. To exercise self-control, sometimes, you got to run. Also, don’t focus on the temptation. Focusing on the temptation will draw you to the temptation. James 4:8 tells us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” What you draw near to will draw near to you. If you draw near to God, God will draw near to you. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, even though He hadn’t eaten for 40 days, He did not focus on the food or allow it to control Him. Instead, He focused on God and His Word.
What you draw near to will draw near to you. If you draw near to God, God will draw near to you.
Second, rely on Jesus. Just as with the other fruit of the Spirit, self-control is not something we do for God; self-control is something God does in us. If Christ is in you, His Spirit enables you to control your flesh, something that you cannot do with your own power. Jesus never promised to take our temptation away. What He promised is that He will give us the power to overcome temptation. When you are Spirit-controlled, there’s nothing that you cannot control because we have the power through Christ to control ourselves. In Romans 7:24, the apostle Paul asked, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to sin and death?” His answer is in verse 25, “Thank God! The answer is (found) in Jesus Christ our Lord!” He can be your answer too. The only key to exercise self-control is Jesus Christ. There’s no other answer.
