CHAPTER 6: Self-control

c HAP t E r 6

SELF-CONTROL

“When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you; and put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.”

Proverbs 23:1-3

The application of what Solomon is telling us here goes beyond just the food that we eat. He is talking about self-control and balance. While he did say, of course, that we shouldn’t allow our appetites to get out of control, the issue of self-control extends to nearly every area of our lives. It includes, but is not limited to, food, money, and sex.

There is an important lesson to be found here. Something does not need to be inherently bad in order to be damaging. Satan, the Bible tells us, “…comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (from John 10:10, NIV). He is just as content to destroy by misusing something that is good and necessary as he is to use something that has no redeeming value.

Something does not need to be inherently bad in order to be damaging.

We would easily agree that we need food every day, yet gluttony is wrong. We all know money is necessary for our daily lives, but the Bible says, “the love of money is the root of all evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Sex inside the confines of marriage is a wonderful blessing designed by God. However, outside of the marriage covenant, it is sinful and not a blessing. Satan will always try to take something God has sin always takes you given you as a blessing and convince you to farther than you thought abandon self-control you’d ever go, it always in that area. Remember this: sin always takes keeps you longer than you you farther than you thought you’d ever go, ever thought you’d stay, it always keeps you and it will cost you more longer than you ever thought you’d stay, and than you ever thought it will cost you more than you ever thought you’d pay. Always! you’d pay. Always!

Every mile of road has 2 miles of ditch.

It is good to keep in mind that the devil doesn’t care which “ditch” you are in, just as long as you aren’t on the road where you belong. If he cannot keep you out of church, then he will try to convince you that you have to earn salvation through good works. He will take something good and try to make it into an unhealthy obsession. He wants to see you abuse every blessing you have.

That is why we need self-control. Yes, I am telling you that you will face temptation, but I am also telling you that there is no temptation you will ever face that cannot be conquered. Don’t just take my word for it though. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man.” This means that whatever vice or imbalance tempts you, it is not a VIP temptation. You

may think, “Nobody has ever been tempted like this. Nobody has ever felt quite what I feel. Nobody has ever had this desire or such a strong pull. I am certain no one can fully understand my situation.”

The moment that thought enters your head, you should immediately recognize where it came from: Satan has been trying that lie for years! Millions have felt all the pull and pressure of temptation that you have and been tempted in the same way. All of our temptations are common to man. This is where the second part of 1 Corinthians 10:13 comes into play. It says, “…but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” This is the truth.

When temptation comes, God has already measured that temptation and measured you—and He has concluded that you are able to come through it victoriously. Comedian Flip Wilson may have said, “The Devil made me do it,” but that is not reality. The devil cannot make you do anything, because God has guaranteed that there is always a way of escape and that you can bear it. So remember when you are facing an extra difficult temptation, God has promised a way of escape for you.

Solomon talked about temptation because he knew it was important. He knew that you would need to know the truth about your tempting situations. Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31,32). That is why, when Jesus was tempted by the devil, He responded again and again saying, “It is written” (see Luke 4:1-13). Jesus fought temptation with truth, and so should we.

“What is the truth?” you may ask. The truth is that this temptation isn’t anything special or insurmountable. The truth is that God has guaranteed you a way out. One of those ways out includes prayer. 2 Timothy 2:26 says to pray “that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil having been taken captive by him to do his will; pray that God will grant them repentance.”

If there is a sin that seems to have you caught you should pray that God will grant you repentance. Much of the power of temptation is broken when we see the consequences that sin will bring. Pray that God will grant you the wisdom to see how that sin will hurt you and those you love. Pray that God reminds you of your commitment to Him and gives you His strength at the very moment you need it.