Just as a serious athlete exercises self-control in all things, Paul disciplined his body so that he would not be disqualified in the endurance race that leads to eternal life (1 Cor. 9:25-27). We choose whether we will indulge the flesh or give priority to spiritual aspect of our lives. The last in the list of the fruit of the Spirit is temperance or self-control (Gal. 5:23). The fruit of the Spirit comes on the heels of a list of vices known as the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). From the list it is obvious that Christians must keep their desires in check to avoid envy, pride, violence against others, sexual sins, and drunkenness. Paul makes sure that his readers know that the “liberty” of Christ he mentioned in Galatians 5:1 is not to be interpreted as an antinomian “freedom” to pursue our passions. Paul said the Christian walk involves “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). Our thoughts, motives, tongues, and bodies must be brought under control to follow the will of God. If I am a follower of Christ, then I deny myself, take up my cross daily, and follow Him (Lk. 9:23). Christians need to realize how much self-mastery is crucial in the many areas of our lives; we must add this to our Christian walk to make our calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:6, 10).
When I see something that I want to buy, I must exercise self-control to determine if it is right to purchase it or if it is covetousness, which is idolatry (Col. 3:5). If someone is ill-mannered and petty in their remarks towards me, I must exercise self-control to bridle my tongue (James 3:1-12). When I see something on TV or the internet that stirs up lustful desire in my heart, I must exercise self-control to not dwell on it nor pursue it (Mt. 5:28; Col. 3:5; James 1:14, 15). When things go well for me and I have reached an achievement, I must exercise self-control to not be proud and conceited (Rom. 12:3; Gal. 5:26; Phil. 2:3). When I am in poor circumstances, I must exercise self-control to not envy the way of the wicked (Prov. 23:17), but instead to continue to trust in the Lord (Prov. 3:5-6).
Remember the commands in Romans 6:12-13: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Because Christians are dead to sin—having buried the man of sin in baptism to be raised to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-7)—they are free from sin; their obedience has been transferred from sin to righteousness. God is our master now, not sin. Though we have died in relationship to sin, we are still alive and render the rest of our days to God as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1-2).
We cannot be what God has called us to be if we lack self-control. We live in an age where lack of self-control is not only excused but is in many cases viewed as an entitlement—and even lauded. As Christians, we must be different as the salt of the earth (Mt. 5:13).
