Think About It

           Have we given much thought to the phrase self-control?   This concept is interspersed throughout the New Testament including Paul’s analogy to athletics when he wrote, “ Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then  do it  to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” (I Corinthians 9:25).   Self-control is a pretty common phrase and one that is typically used without analysis, but what is it?   It is tempting to view self-control being demonstrated by someone who is uninfluenced by circumstances, but I am not sure that describes it fully.   Those who unimpacted by something don’t need to exercise “control”, they are immune to it’s influence.   Thus, self-control involves two phases:   (1)   understanding the impact that something has on us and (2) the ability and the commitment to control how (and how much) we allow it to influence us.   Self-control is admitting that something is tempting us to take an inappropriate emotiona