There is something good for me in being called to present something that I still struggle with myself. I learned a lot in preparing for this lesson and was glad for the reminder to be self-controlled, "so that no one will malign the word of God." I took much of the information for this presentation from Carolyn Mahaney's book Feminine Appeal.
The word used in Titus 2 for self-controlled is "sophron." The root word that it comes from is "sophroneo," which means "to be in a right state of mind, have sober judgement; to be self-controlled." (Thank you NIV Key Word Bible.)
What are some things we need to do in order to "be in a right state of mind?" First, we must recognize that we are our own worst enemies. It is helpful for us to remember that we have sinful desires and that we like to indulge them. Secondly, we must realize that self-control doesn't just happen. We must continually work toward greater self-control. (Phil. 2:12 says "...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.") Finally, we must be aware that our thoughts and feelings are part of our fallen nature and can be sinful themselves.
What are some things that we need to do in order to "have sober judgement?" The first thing we need is to know God's will, and the only way to do this is to be intently studying God's word on a regular basis (Romans 12:2). We also need wisdom to be able to apply God's word to our situations, knowing how and when to speak and to act. Fortunately, God has told us in James 1:5 that all we need to do is to ask Him for wisdom and He will give generously to us.
The hardest step of all may be in exercising self-control. Sometimes it feels as if we are giving up what we really want when we have to be self-controlled. However, Carolyn Mahaney points out that while giving in to temptation may be pleasant at the time, it inevitably causes sorrows that we would rather avoid (broken relationships, poor health, stressful days, etc.). She says, "When we recognize self-control as the virtue that spares us from sin's negative consequences, we will welcome it eagerly as our friend."
Some areas in which we may find ourselves lacking self-control are sleep related -- getting up with the alarm or going to bed when we know we should (instead of wanting just a few more minutes of "me time"). Many of us struggle with yelling or using angry words with our family members and need to practice self-control over our tongues. Often we need to exhibit self-control with our thoughts. Replaying past hurts, worrying about situations, and dwelling on fear are all ungodly thoughts that we ought to purge from our minds. Sometimes we even need to exhibit self-control over our feelings. We acknowledge that we are feeling a certain way, but some feelings are sinful (frustration is the one that I often struggle with) and need to be pushed away, not indulged.
How can we make our self-control battles more successful? One practical way to help is to make wise choices before tempting situations arise. For example, we can avoid movies, music, television shows, books, etc. that will cause us to have ungodly thoughts or feelings. Also, hunger and tiredness can make self-control more difficult, so it is important to meet our bodies' needs or at least be on guard when we are lacking sleep or meals are delayed. Most importantly, we must remember that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, and we will never grow it unless we remain in the vine (John 15).
No comments:
Post a Comment