The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Colleen H. during the 2007-2008 League.
Biblical Research on "Self Government/Self Control"
One of the greatest signs of maturity is the ability to be able to live a pure, honest life when no one is in charge of you. When you are growing up, your parents have control over you. Then, when you are an adult, the government has authority. And, of course, God always is the One that we have to answer to. But what you do when no one is watching is what shows your character. Self government and self control are two things that we all must have.
1 Timothy 1:7 - "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
We see from this verse that God has already given us all self-control in our spirit. It is already in us. But it is up to us to pull that out and use it in our every day life. However, we can not do this on our own. We must trust God to help us do this. But He will give us the strength and the patience to be able to control ourselves no matter what is going on around us.
Proverbs 25:27 - "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control."
Without self control, our lives are a mess. We will have no security in life if we can not control what we do. Just as this verse said, we will be like a city with no walls without self control.
1 Thessalonians 5:6 - "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled."
1 Peter 5:8 - "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
Galatians 5:22 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
As Christians, we all need to fill our lives with the fruit of the spirit. Some of the fruits are easier to bear than others. But we are commanded by God to bear all of them. We know that God never gives us commands if we cannot do it. So we know that we all have the ability to control ourselves. If we rely on God to help us, our actions can all be controlled and we will live a prosperous life.
