Fruits of the Spirit:Self-Control

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal. 5: 22-23

Self-Control

The final Fruit of the Spirit is self-control.  Self-control in the original Greek term “egkrateia“, which means mastery, or command over ones behavior, emotions, sinful and destructive desires . Self control allows the believer to focus more on what the Lord wants us to do with our lives and prevent us from making the mistakes that will cause us to ruin our lives.

However self-control is not an individual matter, believe me I know from experience that self-control cannot be achieved by one person alone. No matter how strong we think we are, alone self-control is out of our reach, that things that make us lose control will always have hold over us until we realize that. Asking friends and family to help you with your self-control can be a source of great strength for you. In Galatians chapter 6:1 Paul wrote “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently”. If we know someone who loses control over themselves because of something that you know is destructive you, and all those who care for that person should come and gently bring him or her under control again. There is a reason why the Christian church is called the Body of Christ, it is so that we can build each other up and allow ourselves to mature more in behavior and character.

In life no one can achieve all of the Fruits of the Spirit equally, some might be stronger and weaker than others. Like for myself I have trouble with self-control, yet I am an extremely patient person. Paul himself was known to lose his temper every once in awhile.Everyone has stronger Fruits than other people, but what matters is that we share these gift that God has given us with as many people as we come into contact with.

Next Issue I will be writing a series on the Ten Commandments.