4 - Self-Control - International Missionary Society

4 – Self-ControlMichael M.2020-12-06T11:47:07-08:00

Reading 4 – Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Self-Control

By A. Ngwenya, Zimbabwe

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance atience; and to patience godliness.” 2 Peter 1:6. The Word of God clearly tells us that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The Word of God also teaches that where there is faith there should be found good works, and that good works are included in obeying Christ. It has been the studied plan of the devil from the very beginning to plant seeds of sin in the human body, in this way corrupting our minds with sin. Satan works in such a way that the higher powers of our beings shall be subject to the lower powers
of the body. When the lower powers of the flesh begin to rule, one acts in a way that forsakes godly reason. As a result, a person becomes a slave of himself because he became subject to the dictates of the flesh. The body should be servant to the mind, and not the mind to the body. The plan of salvation shows us that the only way to suppress and overcome sin, and finally overcome
the devil as well, is to practice temperance, or self-control. Our Savior, at the beginning of His ministry, showed us that the only way to be successful in spiritual life is to be temperate in all things. Even when He was dying on the cross, He was temperate. It is written: “And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar.” Luke 23:36. However, He could not allow His body to be defiled, thereby corrupting His reasoning powers. For our salvation, temperance is an important key, as it is written: “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:25-27.

“Man can reach an eminence in self-control and dignity that will raise him above the slavery of appetite and passion, where he can stand before God as a man, his name written in the books of heaven.” — Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, p. 146. Satan can use only an intemperate person and can drive the mind of such in any direction: “Through intemperance some sacrifice one half, and others two thirds of their physical, mental, and moral powers and become playthings for the enemy.” — Child Guidance, p. 394.

Results of Intemperance

The world is corrupt and full of violence, sickness, crime, and more; if you would trace the driving force behind all this, you would find it to be the lack of temperance, of self-control. As the Spirit of Prophecy states, “Intemperance is at the foundation of the larger share of the ills of life. It annually destroys tens of thousands. We do not speak of intemperance as limited only to the use of intoxicating liquors, but give it a broader meaning, including the hurtful indulgence of any appetite or passion.” —Child Guidance, p. 394.

Temperance in All Things

“Temperance in all things of this life is to be taught and practiced. Temperance in eating, drinking, sleeping, and dressing is one of the grand principles of the religious life. Truth brought into the sanctuary of the soul will guide in the treatment of the body. Nothing that concerns the health of the human agent is to be regarded with indifference. Our eternal welfare depends upon the use we make during this life of our time, strength, and influence.” — Child Guidance, p. 394.

The plan of salvation is about cleansing from sin and providing complete restoration. But the plan of the devil is to continue in sin. Fear not. You have a Savior who died for you. He was tempted in all things, including intemperance, but He withstood. Remember how indulgences were sold by the Roman Catholic Church because priests professed to be able to forgive and cleanse sinners from temporal punishment, even after death. Many still indulge their appetites in eating and drinking, using drugs, and adopting other unhealthy habits. “It is a most difficult matter to unlearn the habits which have been indulged through life. The demon of intemperance is of giant strength, and is not easily conquered. But if parents begin the crusade against it at their own firesides, in their own families, in the principles they teach their children from very infancy, then they may hope for success. It will pay you … to adhere strictly to the principles of temperance in eating and drinking.” —Christian Education, p. 180.

Temperance Precedes Sanctification

In the Bible, we are told that we need to ask Jesus to cleanse us from all bodily defilements and sanctify us. In our Christian walk, we should remember that the objective of this life is sanctification. Many will regret hearing on the final judgment day, “I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:23). The Spirit of Prophecy cautions: “God’s people are to learn the meaning of temperance in all things….

In Eating

“True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything hurtful, and to use judiciously that which is healthful. There are few who realize as they should how much their habits of diet have to do with their health, their character, their usefulness in this world, and their eternal destiny. The appetite should ever be in subjection to the moral and intellectual powers. The body should be servant to the mind, and not the mind to the body.

“Those who eat and work intemperately and irrationally, talk and act irrationally. It is not necessary necessary to drink alcoholic liquors in order to be intemperate. The sin of intemperate eating—eating too frequently, too much, and of rich, unwholesome food—destroys the healthy action of the digestive organs, affects the brain, and perverts the judgment, preventing rational, calm, healthy thinking and acting.” —Child Guidance, p. 398.

The first step to temperance is to control our appetite. How? We are to ask ourselves, why do we eat and drink? and, what do we eat or drink? It seems a great number of people have forgotten the reasons for why they eat and drink. Most people’s eating habits are dictated by taste. They never ask themselves, how will I benefit from this? but, rather, how does it taste? This is why many people never eat at home, but choose restaurants instead, because there is where the food is generally cooked to gratify taste, but not to strengthen the body or build good blood. For example, most people prefer eating potato chips or fried potatoes rather than boiled potatoes. But boiled potatoes are healthier because they are easily digested and benefit the body. Whatever we eat and drink should build healthy blood to nourish body and brain, for good thinking and doing. Many in our church think that abstaining from flesh meats is all that pertains to temperance. Temperance is not
just abstaining from anything harmful, but also the moderation of everything that is healthy. Temperance is the exercise of self-control.

In Work

“We should practice temperance in our labor. It is not our duty to place ourselves where we shall be overworked. Some may at times be placed where this is necessary, but it should be the exception, not the rule. We are to practice temperance in all things. If we honor the Lord by acting our part, He will on His part preserve our health. We should have a sensible control of all our organs. By practicing temperance in eating, in drinking, in dressing, in labor, and in all things, we can do for ourselves what no physician can do for us.

We thank God for giving us the day of rest, the Sabbath. We live in a time when many people are chasing after riches and never seek rest until they have become wealthy. But the irony of it is that when they finally begin to rest, they die, losing their eternal life along with earthly riches. Why do they lose both worlds? It is because of intemperance in working. “There is one [alone], and [there
is] not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yea, it [is] a sore travail.” Ecclesiastes 4:8.

In Dressing

“In all respects the dress should be healthful. ‘Above all things,’ God desires us to ‘be in health’—health of body and of soul. And we are to be workers together with Him for the health of both soul and body. Both are promoted by healthful dress. It should have the grace, the beauty, the appropriateness of natural simplicity. Christ has warned us against the pride of life, but not against its grace and natural beauty.” —Child Guidance, p. 398. Another cause of disease today is being improperly dressed. People have become slaves to fashion. Today’s fashion knows no weather. Most clothing doesn’t adequately cover the limbs, and they remain exposed to the heat or cold. The result its sickness. Few realize that whatever they wear affects their physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Satan is tirelessly working to corrupt the food and clothing industries, and in them he opens up opportunities for self-gratification and profit so that Christians completely forget about the end of the world.

Temperance Is a Principle of the Religious Life

Dear brethren and sisters, let us remember that only one life is granted to us here; and the inquiry with everyone should be, how can I invest my life so that it will yield the greatest profit? How may I live for the glory of God? As we end the year let us review our lives, contemplating how we ran the race in 2020, and what changes can still be made while probation lingers. Be blessed. Amen.