Fruit of Self-Control (Galatians 5:22-23)

Fruit of Self-Control (Galatians 5:22-23)

 

22 오직 성령의 열매는 사랑과 희락과 화평과 오래 참음과 자비와 양선과 충성과 

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

 

23 온유와 절제니 이 같은 것을 금지할 법이 없느니라

²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

  

1. In U.S somewhere north, there was an area where people went to find the ruins. People who went to search the ruins found a cabin house where mine workers stayed long ago. They found two skulls and much gold inside of the cabin.

 

One from the searching team said “They must have forgotten that winter was coming, because their greedy mind for gold blinded them.” Yes indeed, the end of greed is destruction.

 

2. Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau said that self-control would prevent greed. Also, there is a Chinese saying that “Self-control is the best medicine. True happiness comes from self-control.” Therefore, people always emphasize self-control throughout their lives.

 

3. Nowadays, there are many people who don’t view self-control as a priority in their lives, which can cause many problems. People tend to express their desire more than controlling it, and try to fulfill the desire from their greed. In this world, there are rhythms that do not change over time, these are nature and life.

 

Night goes and morning comes, and the four seasons of the year will always continue. Healthy people’s main characteristic is keeping the rhythm of their lives, such as following the rhythm of nature. Sleeping at night and waking up in the morning.

 

In order to keep our bodies, we have to sleep to maintain our immune system, but young folks nowadays stay up late playing games, working, or studying. These are shortcuts to harming one’s own health.

 

4. If we cannot control ourselves in our lives, we will shorten our lives, ill our mental health, make our lives poor, and corrupt the conscience and society. Therefore, we should have faith of self-control in our lives to maintain healthy life style.

 

5. Book of Galatians 5 says one of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit is self-control. Self-control is very important in Christian life as well, because we will experience the same desire as any other, and we will need self-control to maintain our faith.

 

We need to have the courage to accomplish God’s mission when the times and situations are difficult. There is a saying, “a person who does not control their mind is like a castle without the wall.”

 

In Proverbs 25:28 it says, "²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken through, is a person who lacks self-control." And, Christian who has self-control will earn victory.

 

1 Corinthians 9:25 says, "²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. "

 

Then how should we control ourselves? Let’s take a look at 9 ways.

 

A) Control with material.

 

1. Material is a tool of life, not the purpose of life. We have many cases where material took us as a slave, because we can’t control it. How many people commit crime due to material? Loving material more than God is big sin, and if one’s goal of life is about earning money than that’s a failed life.

 

2. Ananias and Sapbi were a Christian couple who were saved in book of acts, but they couldn’t lose their greed about material, so they ended up dying in one day with 3 hours of gap.

 

Book of Acts 5:1-11 says, ‘Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

⁴ Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶ Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

⁹ Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.’

Even in the Old Testament Achan and king Saul couldn’t lose their greed, so they had to face misfortune.

 

B) Control physical desire.(Galatians 5:19- 21)

‘¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.’(1 Peter 2:11)

 

There are many cases that relationships go wrong, and a happy family is ruined, or someone catches sexual diseases from living a wrong life style.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 says, “³ It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should learn to control your own body^[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;”

 

C) Control emotion.

 

Everyone experiences a time when they can’t stop getting angry, or hates someone, and more likely gets hurt, but we shouldn’t be so focused on emotion, because sometimes overflowing emotion could be destructive in a certain way. We need to control our emotions like Jesus! He said, “love your enemy.”

 

D) Control what we say. (Psalm39:1-2)

In south of Turkey there is Russ Tau Mountains and many cranes live there, but their cackling noise is quite loud, so often they get hunted by eagles. So, wise cranes carry pebbles on their beak. We need wisdom like this. We need to control what we say.

 

Proverbs 10:19 - " ¹⁹ Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.

 

F) Control ambition

If our ambition is too consuming, we often work too hard to earn compliments from other people, and slowly we will keep the distance towards God, and we will have distance in our relationship with God.

 

Matthew 6:1 says, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. There are many people who fall from chasing their ambition.

 

G) Control eating

We need to stop over eating, because studies shown that if we over eat our body become vulnerable to cancer. People who over eat will produce free-radical in their blood it will cause Atherosclerosis, aging, and cancer. Study in UCLA found out, rat ate less lived 30% more life time.

 

Proverbs 28:7-‘⁷ A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.”’ Therefore, we, Christian should not get drunk and eat greedily.

 

Proverbs 23: 21- 35 says: 

²¹ for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. ²² Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. ²³ Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well.

²⁴ The father of a righteous child has great joy;  a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. ²⁵ May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!

²⁶ My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways, ²⁷ for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well. ²⁸ Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

²⁹ Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? ³⁰ Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

³¹ Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!³² In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. ³³ Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things.

³⁴ You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. ³⁵ “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”

 

H) Control in pleasure.

 

Alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, and gambling cause much damage to our bodies, and minds. Therefore, we have to know how to control them. one deacon asked a homeless person what happened to his life.

 

He used to be a judge, but one day he was coming out of the bathroom and someone gave him a drug. He tried it out of curiosity, but he became addicted, and he lost his family, house, and his life. If we can’t control our pleasure we will fall as well, so we need learn how to control it.

 

I) Control excessive consumption(spending)

Philosopher Xenon in ancient Greece had a student who spent carelessly, so he called him over to ask why he spends all he has. His student replied, “I had money to spend so I did, what is wrong with it?”

 

Xenon scolded his student by saying “Well, if a cook has bunch of salt on his possession why would he use it all in one food?”

 

In England during the era of King Henry the Fourth, people spent so much money, so the king put out word, “everyone, we should stop excessive spending and live frugally.’ but who would listen to this? So he added, “Except con artist and prostitute.” Then, people listen and stop excessive spending.

 

J) Control sleeping.

 

In book of Proverbs 6:10∼11 says ¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— ¹¹ and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

 

And Proverbs 20:13 says ‘¹³ Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.’ If Christians cannot control themselves, they will fall into hand of Satan.

 

A person who can control him/herself will be able to follow God well. A person with self-control will be able to maintain the goodness in their life spiritual life. Self-control is a short cut to become reverent.

 

Even in good things, we should try to not overdo it. Going to church on time is also control in our lives, therefore we should grow our self-control and grow our faith and maintain healthy lifestyle to spread God’s glory.