The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Paul P. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research - Self-Government
Self-control is absolutely vital to the Christian walk. It can be defined as power over one's emotions, desires, or actions by one's own will in a way that's honoring to God. For many, self-control is one of the least favorite of God's charges. It’s not easy, fun, or "cool." But it is the difference between life and death.
"A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." Proverbs 25:28 (ESV)
Proverbs compares a man without self-control to a "city broken into without walls." In such a situation the inhabitants, weakened by a previous assault, have no way of filtering who or what comes and goes. Anything from spies to thieves to predators have near free reign of the area. Neither the residents nor their possessions are safe. The city's reputation for vulnerability would encourage only more problems from its enemies.
Likewise, without self-control, we as people have no defenses with which to protect our will. Whatever decides to waltz into our life can take control very easily. Our reputation for weakness would only encourage manipulation, and we would become a puppet on a string to whatever temptation or force comes into our life.
Many believe that self-control means losing their freedom. Ironically, in their pursuit of freedom they are imprisoning themselves to the situations around them. It would be like the city folk asserting their absolute control over their own lives by ripping their walls down (declaring that no one should tell them what they cannot do). If they had done that, they would have been made vulnerable to attack, as they were in Jerusalem during the life of Jeremiah.
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints." Ephesians 6:13-18 (ESV)
The life of a Christian is often compared to that of a soldier. The army is known for it's rigorous training and high level of discipline. The reason for this is not because the higher-ups enjoy making life hard for their soldiers—they do this to strengthen them. Training increases their self-control, their discipline. It improves how well they can act and react with their weapons and their aim, and how well they can defend themselves and cooperate with others in battle. The shape that they are in, as well as their equipment, matters greatly.
We as Christians need just as much self-control in our walk as our soldiers do. The armor of God requires discipline to maintain. Our sword of the spirit needs to be kept sharp through regular study of God’s word; our shield of faith kept sturdy through prayer and hearing the word. The readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, all of them, need to be kept in tip-top shape if we are to succeed. If people aren’t willing to take the time necessary to keep their equipment in the proper condition, they won’t be effective on the spiritual battlefield. But if they do, they will be like the mighty men in the time of David, and they will achieve the victory.
Over and over again in the scriptures it is shown that self-control is not easy. It comes at quite a cost. Yet the blessings reaped are far greater than we can imagine.
