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Temperance, love's victory, is self-control. It means controlling one's thoughts and actions. Temperance is our use of food in moderation, in sexual matters is abstinence unless you're married, in matters of dress is modesty, it is control over one's desires and passions, speech and temper. It is the responsibility of each Christian to yield to the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:5
"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;
but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit."
The need for temperance in every aspect of our life is greater today than any other time. Our total existence is being threatened by undisciplined living. The world needs to see this steadfastness in us; our loved ones need to see our steadfastness; and our enemies need to see our steadfastness.
Solomon is all his wisdom, declared it is easier to capture a city than to rule our own spirits.
Proverbs 16:32
"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."
Proverbs 25:28
"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is
like a city that is broken down, and without walls."
Even controling our tongue (speech) is a difficult challenge for most of us, and can render our religion useless.
James 1:26
"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue,
but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."
James continues by telling us our tongues are evil, full of poison and more difficult to tame than wild animals.
James 3:7-10
- "For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
- But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
- Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
- Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be."
It is obvious that our tongue hinders our self-control (temperance), but what else does? We are hindered by fleshly lusts, and both Peter and Timothy warn against them.
1 Peter 2:11
"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul."
2 Timothy 2:22
"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity,
peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
Soloman warns us about drinking.
Proverbs 23:29,30
- "Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?
- They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine."
This leaves us in a dilema and the inability to perform as we would want to.
Romans 7:18,19
- "For I know that in me (that is, in my fles,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
- For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."
So with all these warnings against what our natural man wants to do and the seemingly inability to gain self-control, are we left alone? Not at all, the answer is very clearly stated in ...
Galatians 5:24,25
- And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
- If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
Our responsibility then, is to yield to the Holy Spirit, trust in God's Word, and remember we are not alone ... God is at work in us.
Philippians 2:13
"For it is God which worketh in you
both to will and to do his good pleasure."
As we cooperate with God in doing His Will, self-control will be a natural by-product and evidence that we are walking in the Spirit. Without developing this Fruit of the Spirit we cannot grow as we should in Christ, we cannot overcome the works of the flesh, we allow our weakness to keep us from obeying God and His Word and we will not defeat the temptations that come our way. We must remember we are not our own, we are bought with a price.
1 Corinthians 6:20
"For ye are bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body,
and in your spirit, which are God's."
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