Self Control

The English dictionary defines Self control as the ability to control one's emotions and desires, the capacity of efficient management to the future.

I will continue with the story of Joseph. He was a man that shows us an example of exercising self control and the rewards of doing so.

As mentioned last week, he could have had an affair with Potifar’s wife but he refused her advances and as a result went to prison for it. In the world we live in, very few people will go to the prison in place of so called enjoyment. In reality not having self control is an almost prison in itself as it send us to a land that will be very hard to return from. Lack of self control in one area of life leads to the inability to control other things.

Constantly being impulsive and living above our means leads to debts. Debts means having no control over our finances, it means working for loan and credit card Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender

Not giving our children discipline in love leads to children that we have no control over. Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it

Lack of self control in sexual desires leads to sexual sin that ends marriages and creates broken homes. Proverbs 6:32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself (Same thing goes for women).

Lack of control in the words that we speak leads to regret and sometimes creating hurt that is very hard to repair, our words can either bring progress or destruction. Proverbs 18:21The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Having self control is one of the main challenges for the human race. We want things and we want it now, people get angry and feel that revenge will make them feel better.
Anything that is in control of our lives apart from God can and will possibly bring ruin. We need to exercise self control by handing it all to God. We all desire good things and God wants the best for us but the best things are worth waiting for.

Proverbs 25:28. Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls

Lack of self control is one of the main causes of sin, most people generally know what is morally right and wrong but cannot control themselves when there is a fight to satisfy self. Let us continually fill ourselves with the word of God and pray for God to take control of every area of our lives.