Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control (devotion)

The onscreen battle was vicious and Sam was getting killed every time he spawned. He responded to this indignity with great humility—screaming at the television and stomping his feet. I talked to him about self-control. He said he had the “right” to feel what he was feeling. I agreed that he could be angry, but stomping and screaming were not appropriate. After another bout, I took him off the Xbox.


I don’t normally use the Bible as a punishment, but I thought it would do him some good to see what God’s Word had to say on the subject. I sent him to www.biblegateway.com to find three scriptures on anger or self-control. Then he was to write three sentences on why it’s good to have self-control.

After his search, he came to me with a very different attitude. His first sentence was about self-control being something God expects. Even now several weeks later, he holds his temper much better when playing those games. As a side note, one of the scriptures he found was Proverbs 16:32. “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” Only the Holy Spirit could have directed a thirteen-year-old boy to a scripture so perfectly designed for his mind frame and situation.

Just like I think “love” is the fruit intentionally listed first. I think “self-control” is intentionally listed last. Self-control is difficult for several reasons. We might feel what we are doing is justified as Sam did. We may not even realize we have a problem. Or we’ve been locked in the sin for so long, we don’t think we can stop it.

Before we can truly have self-control, first we need to have group control. We need to rely on our fellow believers to point out to us what we may not see. Galatians 6:1 commands, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.”

Our first reaction may be to tell someone to mind their own business, but the Bible is pretty clear that we shouldn’t. Proverbs 15:32 tells us, “If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.” If we listen to others, we have a better idea of what we need to work on in our lives.

The other part of group control is accountability. It’s a lot easier to rationalize and justify sin to ourselves than it is to others. If we have faithful brothers and sisters who know our struggles, we have a better chance of victory. “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16

Once we have had victory with group control, we are far better equipped to have self-control.

I am addicted to Coca-Cola. I’m also overweight and have kidney disease, but that doesn’t stop me from drinking it. I’m trying to keep it to one a day. I’d love some group control to help me with this. Feel free to hold me accountable.