What comes to mind for you when you think about self control? Is it battling something like lust? What about anger? Maybe it’s controlling the words you speak? I think this is something we all tend to struggle with and no one’s perfect at exercising self control at all times. Since that’s the case, what are we supposed to do? How do we have self control?
The Bible has plenty to say about controlling ourselves, why it’s important, and the wisdom that comes with doing so. The Word is also clear that we are in sin when we lose control of ourselves and deny using self control in any situation including when we’re being tempted.
Jesus is our best example of self control. He was human and was tempted just like us so He is able to empathize with us in every single way (Hebrews 4:15). I’m hoping that encourages all of us as followers of Christ, one day at a time, to strive to have self control in any situation that comes our way.
Let’s look and see what the Bible has to say with Scripture on Self Control:
1 Corinthians 10:13 – 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.
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
2 Peter 1:5-7 – 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 Timothy 1:7 – For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
1 Peter 4:7 – The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
Titus 1:7-8 – For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
Proverbs 16:32 – Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Proverbs 19:11 – Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 25:28 – A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 – So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
1 Corinthians 9:27 – But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
What does the Bible have to say about other topics?
