Under Control
We had a great time on our ski trip this past week. I’ve really enjoyed getting back into skiing. I figure that since snow is just frozen water, then it qualifies as an acceptable activity for an “aquaholic.” Ha.
As I was on the slopes, I was reminded that skiing is all about being under control.. Some people can fly down the mountain and be under control and others may need to wedge it down slowly to remain under control. Nevertheless, the principal of staying under control applies the same to everyone no matter what level of skier we are.
We also know what it feels like to lose control on the mountain. That brings in a set of emotions that ranges from uncomfortable to flat out terrified. None of us really want that feeling but sometimes we like to push it just to the edge so that we know where our control limits are. This is true in our personal lives as well.
Self-control is the ability to “govern” one’s desires, impulses & emotions. It’s saying no when we should say no and exercising moderation for the right things. It’s also saying yes to the key spiritual disciplines we need in our lives. If we aren’t governing, we will instead be governed or maybe even owned by these same desires.
Self-control is critically important because a lack of it is a “gateway” to all kinds of problems - some with huge consequences. You can tie most any sin back to a failure to exercise self-control at some level. It is our most important defense mechanism against sin.
Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
In biblical times, walls were the chief means of defense against intruders. No walls = no defense. It’s ironic that Solomon wrote these words because he became a sad demonstration of this principal as he took on 700 wives and they ended up leading him away from the Lord into pagan idol worship.
In order to have these walls of defense in our lives, it’s important that we understand a few key principals about self-control:
1. Biblical self-control is not the same thing as willpower. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and not just our own personal self-discipline. Personal self-discipline is a great thing but it needs to be joining with the leading and strength of the Holy Spirit. We often see people that are very disciplined in certain areas of their lives (i.e. career, fitness) but not so much in other areas like spiritual and family. This is the result of relying on one’s own strength without the leading of the Spirit.
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-control
2. Lapses in self-control occur when we are willing to trade what we want most for what we want right now. In that moment we willing to risk the things that we want most for the allure of the temporal. We lose our eternal perspective.
3. Exercising self-control does not limit us. Instead, it actually “frees us” to govern instead of being governed or even enslaved. How? The boundaries (walls) that come through self-control don’t limit our freedom, they protect our freedom. The only way to achieve true freedom in anything is through obedience & self-discipline. Think about your relationships, your health and your finances - a life without boundaries in any of these areas will lead to disaster.
The truth is that real freedom doesn’t come without having any boundaries, it comes with having the right boundaries.
Stay hungry,
Big E