The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Kristina C. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Research on Self-Government
In a world where the mentality, "If it feels good, do it!" is the hype, the human race lacks self-control. This lack of self-control can be found in abortion, our skyrocketing national debt, etc. While our nation was proudly founded with men and women who sought to be self-governed, does our nation still have any sense of self-government? Merriam-Webster's dictionary describes self-government as "control of one's own affairs, or self-control". Self-control is defined as "restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotion, or desires." Since we should never trust the ways of the world, let's see what God's Word says about self-government.
Forerunner Commentary did an in-depth study on self-government to explain exactly what Biblical self-government is. Self-government according to the Bible is "the foundation of a strong godly life, growth, and producing fruit. If a person cannot govern himself, if he cannot master his passions, he will certainly not have a good relationship with his fellowman or God…The Biblical writers used this word in various ways: to behave in an orderly manner, to be sober, serious, sane, sound-minded, discreet, self-disciplined, prudent, and moderate." Self-control can also be described as holding our appetites in check. Moderation is also a key element. Proverbs 25:29 says, "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." Men have debated the structure of government for thousands of years, but a perfect structure with justice and peace cannot be acquired without self-government. Self-control means not passing the blame on someone else, but taking responsibility for your own actions, no matter how difficult this may be.
There are several areas in which people lack self-government or self-control: lust, greed, alcoholism, sexual desires, gossiping, violence, harmful speech, etc. If self-control seems utterly impossible, then the best thing to do is to avoid temptation. For example, Paul advises single people and widows to marry if they cannot resist sexual temptation. In Corinthians 7:5, Paul advises couples: "Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."" Whatever the situation, removal of the temptation is beneficial if an appetite cannot be controlled.
1 Thessalonians 5:6 says, "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled." As Christians, we are commanded to have self-control. Paul makes it very clear that self-control cannot be obtained by flesh alone. Instead, self-control is the manifestation of God's work through the Holy Spirit. To gain self-control, we need to ask God to fill us with the Holy Spirit, and we need to remove any form of temptation if it is too great to resist. While self-government or self-control is hard to obtain, our society would greatly benefit from a self-governed people.
