Self-Control
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 25:28
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
Ancient cities had walls to protect them from invaders and enemy armies. Often the most important path to winning a battle was to breach the city walls. To ensure the victory was secured and permanent, the attacking army would often destroy the walls of the city. When you think of the victory over the city of Jericho as described in the book of Joshua, you see the importance of a city’s walls. As long as the people of Jericho had their walls intact, they felt secure and safe. They were confident that all would be well.
In light of that, the point of this proverb is easily recognized. You are a defeated person if you don’t have self-control. You are exposed and vulnerable. Your soul is laid bare. Our culture has become inundated with men and women who have lost all control of themselves. We see it in the way people speak to one another, in the angry reactions to the smallest of offenses, and in the overall divisiveness that permeates modern life.
The answer is not going to be found in anything less than conversion to Christ and a Spirit-filled life. Paul, in describing the fruit of the Spirit, includes self-control as one of the outgrowths of the Spirit-controlled life. So, if you are controlled by the Holy Spirit, you will have self-control. Seek to be self-controlled by learning to be Spirit-filled.
