Proverbs 25:28
Destined to Destruction
We have been considering character for the last few weeks. I assert
that character is greatly neglected today, both in having it and
especially in teaching it. I have also made some other assertions:
1. That character is Christ, His nature, and His teaching abiding
within you. Without these things, you will be devoid of
character.
2. That being the case, that the virtues of character are mostly
spiritual gifts and a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ
will be necessary to develop character to its fullest extends.
3. That wisdom is foundational to having character for wisdom is
required to even see the need for character, let alone to under-
stand what attributes make up good character and how to secure
them.
4. That after wisdom, love is foundational to having character for
love of others and of God are the needed motivations to put
self aside to inherit character.
(Love’s description - Concern for others and a desire to help that
leads to action.)
The more I think on love and its role in securing character, the more
I see love’s importance.
1. Love is the basket that holds the many virtues of character
together. Each and every god-like attribute is desired,
secured, honed, and kept because of our love either for God
or for others.
2. Love is also a vertical, slippery slope upon which bad
characteristics can gain no hold. Such attributes as
selfishness, vengefulness, tale-bearing and the like, are
cast away by love’s purest touch.
There is so much more that could and should be said about both of
these attributes of character, but let’s move ahead to see what other
items can be added to basket.
Some thoughts:
1. Tonight, we continue with those attributes that I label
Foundational Attributes. While every attribute of character
is important, I believe the foundational attributes make all
the rest possible.
2. While the Bible speaks MUCH of the foundational attributes, it
speaks less on their results. The logic to me is that if
you get the first attributes right, all the rest of the
attributes will take care of themselves.
a. Some of the marks of good character are just barely
mentioned in the Bible and some are only inferred in the
examples of godly people.
b. That does not make them in less important.
c. Remember, the Bible is not a book of character training.
It is the Book of Redemption. However, just like in
science or history, whenever the Bible does mention a
character truth, you can mark it down that it is 100%
accurate in what it says.
As this proverb tells us, a person with no self control is a person
with no protection. He is as doomed as a city in those days with no
walls. Although that person may prosper for a time, in the end, he
will fall because he lacks what is necessary to keep himself safe,
i.e. self control.
Let’s consider self control for a few minutes.
I. What is self control?
A. Self control is "the ability to obey God and to be godly."
1. Self control for a Christian is not just the ability to do
what is deemed right and it certainly is not the ability
to do what YOU want to do.
2. Self control is the surrendering of our bodies and minds
to the Holy Ghost, the Word of God, and to godliness.
3. While that may sound simple in definition, it is very
hard in practice for the Holy Ghost will command you to
do some things you don’t want to do and a few things
which may seem to be beyond our abilities to do.
B. The Bible teaches and demands we control ourselves.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is
no law.
1. These are the results of the Holy Ghost living within us
and there is no doubt that He puts within us the desire,
the strength, and the ability to do these things.
a. However, like conductor at the rail switch, WE
decide which direction our train will travel.
b. We lost many battles not because we are not ABLE
to do better but because we simply refuse to
MAKE ourselves do better.
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body, and in your
spirit, which are God’s.
2. We must remind ourselves that this life is no longer
ours. We died with Christ and the body that remains is
His to live through.
1Cor 9:26 I therefore so run, not as
uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth
the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have
preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway.
3. Paul compared self control to an athlete who has to build
up his muscles in order to win his event. This verse
hints at what we must do to build up the spiritual man
so that he or she can control himself.
1Thess 4:3 For this is the will of God, even
your sanctification, that ye should abstain from
fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to
possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
4. The body, the vessel, that we was given and dedicated to
God at the moment of salvation. Now we must learn how to
control it.
1Co 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all
things are not expedient: all things are lawful
for me, but I will not be brought under the power
of any.
5. Here Paul answered those who would say righteousness is
legalism.
a. We can do whatever we want, but we should not want to
wrong!
b. And on top of that, we should live free from anything
that mind bind or hinder our service for the Lord.
II. What areas are to have self control?
A. The short of it is "all areas."
1. God command us NOT to do some things. We should be able
to stop.
2. God command us to DO some things. We should be able to do
them.
3. Some of the things He commands us are physical things.
We should be able to control our bodies to do them.
4. Some of the things He commands us are emotional things.
We should be able to control our emotions to do them.
5. Some of the things He commands us are spiritual things.
We should be able to control our spirit to do them.
B. Let’s note some of the physical commands.
1. One of the most often commanded in the physical realm is
to control our tongue. This is mentioned throughout the
Old and New Testaments.
Pr 12:18 There is that speaketh like the
piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise
is health.
Pr 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but
grievous words stir up anger.
Pr 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue
keepeth his soul from troubles.
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed
out of your mouth, but that which is good to the
use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto
the hearers.
Jas 1:26 If any man among you seem to be
religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but
deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is
vain.
a. The tongue is both very powerful and very public.
For a Christian, controlling it is essential.
b. To control the tongue means to keep it from lying,
cursing, blaspheming, being vulgar, profane, mean-
spirited, gossiping, tale-bearing—even being overly
negative and complaining.
c. The children of Israel coming out of Egypt were
judged time and again for their murmuring and
complaining.
d. Obviously, our mouth is a great source of sin.
e. Christians are commanded to control it in every
aspect. That is self control.
2. Another in the physical realm is our eating.
Pro 23:1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler,
consider diligently what is before thee:
2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a
man given to appetite.
3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are
deceitful meat.
a. Having control over our appetite enables us to fast.
b. Fasting itself is not a spiritual activity like
praying, preaching, or reading the Bible; yet is
described throughout the Scripture as being a
powerful spiritual tool.
c. Why? Because it takes a strong, controlled spirit to
fast.
d. The very act of fasting strengthens the spiritual
over the fleshly.
3. Sleep
Pr 6:10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a
little folding of the hands to sleep:
\\#Pro 24:33\\
a. The issue with sleep is not just to get enough rest.
b. It is to be in control of your self enough to put
yourself to bed when it is time and to get yourself
up when it is time.
4. Another similar to sleep but not the same is being lazy.
Pr 19:15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep;
and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Pr 24:30 I went by the field of the slothful,
and by the vineyard of the man void of
understanding;
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns,
and nettles had covered the face thereof, and
the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked
upon it, and received instruction.
C. But it is not just physical. There are commands that deal
with our emotions.
1. God gives commands concerning fear.
Jos 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong
and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither
be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with
thee whithersoever thou goest.
Lu 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your
Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
2. And worry.
Phi 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every
thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known
unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
3. Some say, "These are emotions. You cannot help the way
you feel."
a. By giving us these commands, I would have to say that
God thinks differently.
(1) The command tells us that we do control how we
feel.
(2) The first step to taking control of our emotions
is to realize that.
b. But even if your emotions cannot be changed
immediately, what you do when you have them can.
c. We can face fear and neither flee nor fight. We can
pray and stand for truth for right and for God.
d. We can be anxious for someone and instead of wasting
our time worrying, we can pray.
e. These are the marks of a person who is controlling
himself instead of letting his emotions control him.
D. Then there are many commands given concerning our spirit.
1. Choosing giving over greed.
Pro 15:27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth
his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall
live.
Pro 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine
own wisdom.
Note: Are you noticing how many of these topics are discussed in the
book of Proverbs? Proverbs teaches us more about godly character
than any other book of the Bible!
2. Choosing love over lust.
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever
looketh on a woman to lust after her hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart.
3. Again, a person might say, "Preacher that is just the way
I am wired!"
a. No. That is the way sin has wired us.
b. You and I have yet to see what God and His grace can
do for us.
E. There are many more commands in the Bible.
1. Every command in the Bible is a demand that we be able to
control ourselves in order to obey it.
2. So every command in the Bible is a teaching on self
control.
III. How can we develop self control?
A. Again, the Bible is not a book on character per se so, as far
as I know, it does not specifically tell us how to develop
self control.
B. However, it does give some hints.
1. There is a pattern - You must be saved and surrendered to
the Holy Spirit.
2. There are some precepts:
a. Grow the spirit
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the
flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the
Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
(1) While the Bible is not speaking specifically of
self control here, it is giving a precept of
the Christian life.
(2) The more you feed the spiritual, the strong the
spiritual will be. The less you feed the flesh,
the weaker your carnal nature will be.
(3) Pray; read the Bible; fast as much as you can;
turn off the TV and worldly music; give more of
your time to Christ and less to work, pleasure,
and hobbies.
b. Practice
1Cor 9:26 I therefore so run, not as
uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth
the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection….
(1) The fact that we cannot do what Christ tells us
right now does not mean we cannot do it.
(2) Most everyone fails at most everything at least
once.
(3) We must fight, strive, struggle—again and again.
(4) Considering it exercising your spirit.
(5) If you fail, immediately set about to try it
again and keep trying until you succeed.
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