"Self-Control vs. Self-Indulgence"--Authority

Self-Control vs. Self-Indulgence

Self-control is the power of the Holy Spirit that results from passing the tests of the Spirit.

Self-Control vs. Self-Indulgence Meditation Commentary

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” —Galatians 5:22-25

            It is interesting that these verses describe the fruit of the spirit in conjunction with our responsibility to walk in the spirit and crucify our flesh.  The fact that we have to submit to the authority of the Spirit of God means that we have authority and responsibility, as well.  The difference between self-control and self-indulgence has to do with whether you are valuing your own authority or the authority of the Spirit more. Romans 6:16 says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”  Whoever you obey determines whether you are indulging yourself or controlling yourself.  It is easy to indulge ourselves, and obey our own selfish impulses and desires, and it is difficult to suppress those desires.  In fact, we cannot even do it on our own; we need the help of the Spirit.  We do play a role in this though.  The Spirit of God is different from other authorities in that He does not force His will on us.  Rather, He wants us to yield our desires to Him, and yield our bodies to Him so that He can reign in our lives.  Romans 6:12-13 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”  We have been made alive and justified by the Spirit, but it is now our responsibility to control our own selfish desires.  Again, it is by the Spirit that we are able to do it, but we must yield to that Spirit, and walk in the Spirit, and let Him manifest fruit in our lives.  Fruit like self-control takes a while to mature.  It does not immediately blossom into a fully ripe fruit overnight.  Fruit matures slowly sometimes, and self-control is no exception.  God places us in situations that require self-control, and the trick is learning to yield to Him in those situations and let Him take authority in our lives.