The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Emily M. during the 2007-2008 League.
Self-Government and Self Control
"The act, power, or habit of having one's faculties or energies under control of the will," that is how my dictionary defines self-control. Why does the bible emphasize self-control as being important? Proverbs 25: 28 (NIV) says, "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." Also, in 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NIV) it says, "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. Why? What is the importance of self-control, and what, exactly are we trying to control?
For one, we need to control our tempers. When we let our tempers get out of control, we leave ourselves open to harm. Proverbs 14:17 (The Message) says, "The hotheaded do thing they'll later regret." Then in Proverbs 29:22 (NLT) "An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin." Now, we all get angry, even Jesus was angry on the day he drove the money-changers out of the temple, but we need to know how to control our anger. We may not be able to help getting angry sometimes, there is even such a thing as righteous anger, but we can't make anger a habit, or allow ourselves get carried away and do things that we will later regret. Ephesians 4: 26-27 (NIV) says, "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Learning to control our tempers is a valuable thing. When you let the sun go down on your anger and begin to harbor that anger in your heart, bitterness and vengefulness can entangle and snare you easily. It's a trap that is difficult to get out of, Proverbs 19:19 (NASB), "A man of great anger will bear the penalty, for if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again." Jesus can deliver us from the bitterness that we become entangled in, but only think how much pain we would be spared if we learned to control our tempers.
We also need to learn to control what we say. James 3:2-9 (NASB) has this to say, "For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how a great forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity. every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me," we all know it's not true, words do hurt, sometimes even more than broken bones. "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise," (Proverbs 10:19 NIV). We also know how difficult it is to control what we say. We say things all the time that we regret, but taking our words back is like trying to squish the toothpaste back into the tube. It's a messy business, it's hard to do, and it doesn't work that well. If we began trying to control our tongues, once again, we would be avoiding a great deal of pain and heartache. "Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your lips from evil and your lips from speaking lies," (Psalms 34:12-13 NIV).
These are only two areas in which we are supposed to have self-control. We must, in fact learn to have self-control over all our evil desires, everything in us that is not pleasing to God. Everything is a lot to ask for though, it seems humanly impossible to control everything that would displease the Lord. To put it simply, it is humanly impossible, "but with God all things are possible" Matthew 19:26 (NIV). Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV) says, "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature." We must live by the Spirit, if we are even to begin living a life with self-control, after all, self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, (Galatians 5: 22-23 NIV).
Having self-control will bring glory to God; we are His representatives on earth, and when we as Christians have self-control, and live lives of integrity and holiness, the world will wonder what makes us different. Having self-control is also a protection for us from the pain and suffering that comes from sin, and also the schemes of the enemy. 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
"Therefore prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace given you when Jesus Christ is revealed," 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV). I love this verse, because it helps me to see self-control more clearly. We are preparing our minds for action. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Being self-controlled is not a passive measure for self-improvement; we are like warriors preparing for battle. We need not fear though, "for the battle is the Lord's," (1 Samuel 17:47 NIV), and our hope is in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
