February 16, 2022 | Series: Youth for Jesus | Number: Vol. 4, No. 40
“A man without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls.” (Prov 25:28TLB)
Apart from the defence that we can employ through the use of arms, ammunition and trained security personnel, there are other forms of defence that we can daily take advantage of for our safety in this life. And these are mentioned in the bible. Money, for example, is described in it as a form of defence (Ecc 7:12). This, of course, is true, for there are problems we can successfully defend ourselves against with plenty of money.
Also, wisdom is described as a form of defence, for with it you can keep yourself safe from unnecessary problems and wars and win even wars that money cannot win (Ecc 7:12). Faith in God is equally described in the bible as a form of defence, for with it you can protect yourself against any attack (spiritual, physical or mental) of the devil on your life (Eph 6:16).
It will be good of us, then, to possess all these forms of defence in the right measure. That way, our safety and peace of mind in this life will be guaranteed in most situations.
But there is another kind of defence that is mentioned in the bible, which our lack of it can render our possession of all the other forms of defence useless. Solomon speaks about it in our opening bible text. He refers to it as self-control. And according to him, if a man does not have self-control, if a man does not have a grip over himself – his passions and appetites – he is as good as defenceless in life. In other words, it does not matter what quality or quantity of security personnel, money, wisdom and faith he has, he will still be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive influences and circumstances. And he will be the very one making himself vulnerable to these things.
For example, as mighty as Samson was in battle, his lack of self-control in sexual matters ended up making him vulnerable to Delilah. He could protect himself against all the hosts of the Philistines. But he could not protect himself against this one woman and her evil schemes, even though he knew what she was up to. So, eventually, he lost his ministry of saving his people and died a brutal death with his adversaries. And only God knows how many people have, just like this man, become defenceless and lost their lives, marriages, empires or purposes in life because they could not control their sexual passions. (Cf. Judges 16)
What about Esau? What prompted him to sell his birthright, something that wishes, tears or all the wealth in the world could not give to him? Godlessness fuelled by lack of self-control! Yes, he was very hungry that very day, hungry to the point of fainting. But he did not have to eat Jacob’s red stew in order to quench his hunger. He could have eaten anything else and be fine that day. But because he could no control his appetite just for some minutes, he lost not just his birthright but also his right to partake in the covenant God had made with his forefather, Abraham. So, though today we have the nation of Israel among us, the nation of Esau has disappeared into oblivion. (Cf. Gen 25:29-34)
In like manner, everyday many all around the world are becoming defenceless and losing their lives and other precious things that money, time, wishes or weeping cannot buy through their inability to control their unclean appetite for things they can do without, things that perish with time. Therefore, you have to give serious attention to those passions and appetites of yours that have tendencies to take over your life and lead you to act against common sense or against the word of God, so that you may take advantage of the grace of God to utterly subject them to your control. Otherwise, you may not know at what point they will leave your life, home, business or accomplishments defenceless for your enemies to destroy.
My prayer is that God will supply all that is lacking in your self-control, so that you may take the control of your life back from the hands of those passions and appetites that have become unclean and have been controlling you and exposing you to destruction, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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