“1But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV)
When I read these verses I am taken aback and what I could become, or rather what I am, with maintaining self-control. Paul lines it out and it is up to me to be fully aware daily to avoid as best I can.
I have to believe that man does not set out to be as described in the verses above. I am pretty sure that I do not wake in the morning looking for the opportunity to be abusive, ungrateful, unholy, heartless. I will say that though I may not wake looking for it, as a man and sinner, it is in my nature to gravitate toward those actions and where it starts is with my lack of self-control. Without self-control, I am not able to settle myself into doing the work of God and will simply react to that which is happening around me.
Just above the passage I quoted from 2 Timothy, Paul writes of how we should be acting each day. He outlines the actions that we are to be taking and again, it all starts with maintaining self-control.
“22So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25correcting his opponents with gentleness.” – 2 Timothy 2:22-25 (ESV)
No, Paul does not use the word self-control, however he speak of being gentle. And in order to be gentle one must be deliberate in their actions and if one is deliberate in action then they are demonstrating self-control over their actions. Paul gives the actions of the Lord’s servant, me, in verse 22 and further explains through those verses that immediately follow. I am held to the standard of living as the Lord’s servant and in doing so must adhere to the actions outlined and that all begins with my deliberate self-controlled actions.
I am encouraged when reading Paul’s letters to Timothy as they are written not just to Timothy, but to me as well. I am given instructions as to how to be a Christian and what actions I should be taking as well as those that I should be avoiding. It is up to me to continue my study of Gods’ Word through my deliberate action so that I am able to maintain my self-control and avoid the actions that are natural to me as a man and sinner.
What actions are you taking each day? Are you aware of the self-control needed so that others will see God in you? Are you willing to take deliberate self-controlled actions and avoid those that are natural to you as a sinner?
Trevor's Thoughts 