Overtaken?

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. Proverbs 25:28

All the fruits of the Holy Spirit are given to us for our good to help us do and be what God wants us to be.  He knows that we need them. He also wants us to, not only use these fruits in our own lives, but to bring others into the kingdom by showing them to the world. God wants us to produce good fruit and only a good tree gives forth good fruit. 

Self-control helps us to be a good tree and to show to others around us that our God is mighty and trustworthy. There are many scriptures referring to having self-control as it applies to a variety of temptations.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Self-control is a tool we can seek from the Holy Spirit and is something we need to exercise so that we will not be overtaken by any kind of temptation. This fruit can be one of the ways of provided for escape.

Temptation is different for everyone. Some temptation is sexual or related to addiction. Some people are tempted by money or power. Many are self-centered and prideful; seeking fame and recognition. These are all issues Christians combat in our everyday lives. Without self-control, resisting temptations is virtually impossible.

 When we know what areas of our lives need self-control, we can ask the Holy Spirit to provide this strength in those areas.  Believing that God has provided this way of escape, we can mature as Christians in a multitude of ways.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 2 Peter 1:5-7

Self-control does not stand alone. We need faith, knowledge, godliness, love, and all that God provides through the Holy Spirit to help us. Perhaps it is listed last among the fruits because we need all the others before we can exercise self-control.

In this life we are running a race day by day, trying to develop a closer, more trusting relationship with our God. We are surrounded by evil and at every turn there is something trying to stop our communion with the Lord. Without His help, we would surely fail. Trusting God is absolutely necessary for self-control.  The more we trust Him the more He will strengthen our resolve. We must believe that overcoming these temptations is what is best for us.

Christ told us that He would send us a helper when He was gone, and that helper is the Holy Spirit. Failing to call on the Holy Spirit when we are struggling is like ignoring a life line when drowning. 

We are not strong enough in our humanness to have self-control. We are powerless without God in the face of great temptation. 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Prayer: Lord help us run the race of this world to win your prize. We know that eternal life is already ours by your sacrifice on the cross, but we want to mature and be the people you want us to be. We ask your Holy Spirit to give us self-control in all things. Help us to acknowledge our weaknesses and to call on your strength with faith to overcome them. Amen.