Self-Control

July 31

Ezra 7-8

Psalm 86:11-17

Proverbs 19:12-14

I Corinthians 9

Self-Control

“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 unperishable.  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.”  I Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV

I am one of the least athletic people on the planet.  I did not grow up in the time when everyone gets a trophy and children’s feelings were taken into consideration at all in sports.  The process in PE or at summer camp recreation was that the two most athletic people were made team captains and they got to pick their teams.  Back and forth they got to pick until everyone was on a team.  I wasn’t usually the very last person picked, but I was really close to the bottom.  I remember praying on many occasions that I would not be the last because that was the most embarrassing position to be in as the one the last team “had” to take.  I am, however, a huge sports fan.  I love competition.  I love the thrill of the game.  Both my daughters are athletic (no idea where they get it) so I have seen the discipline it takes to excel in athletics.  Getting up early for practice, eating healthy, running, working out, and going to bed early to get plenty of rest are all necessary to train your body to perform at its highest level.  It takes a tremendous amount of self-control to excel in athletics, but it takes even more self-control to excel spiritually.  Just as we need to train our bodies through exercise and eating healthy, it takes training to develop the disciplines to mature in our faith. 

It takes tremendous self-control and discipline to get up early to spend time with God instead of hitting the snooze button 3 times.  It takes self-control to go to bed early instead of staying up late looking through social media or playing games on your phone.  It takes self-control to choose to not get angry at your friend who said something hurtful to you and to be patient and loving and gentle and kind when people treat you badly.  It is much easier to just do what feels good at the time.  But we are running a race.  We are not working to obtain a trophy that will collect dust in our parent’s attic, but rather we are disciplining ourselves to please our Father in Heaven.  Our reward is eternal life, and our goal is to hear, “well done My good and faithful servant.”  “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”  2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)