Having self-control is the ability to not give into the indulgences, temptations and lusts of the flesh (the flesh being our carnal body, associated natural bodily behaviors and associated temptations). Being defined as “meek” comes under this category. Being meek means that you are not easily offended, strong in character, and exhibiting self-control. The Bible states that Moses was the meekest man on earth. Being meek is not about being timid and weak as some believe, but having the ability to have control over how you act while under temptation, your actions and your emotions.
Throughout our natural Christian lives on earth, you will still be exposed to lusts to some degree, but the important thing is that you shouldn’t let them drive you. Your spirit must exhibit self-control over the body, not the other way around. We as Christians must be lead by the Spirit and behave as children of God, and follow His teachings, not the world’s. We are called as Christians to “die daily” to the lusts of the flesh by the Apostle Paul, and are called to overcome our bodily lusts, as Paul states in the Epistles (namely in the letters to the Roman and Galatian churches in the context of overcoming the lusts of the flesh).
To “die daily” in the context of self-control means not to satisfy the hungers and lusts of the flesh, and not to give into their associated temptations which commonly lead to committing sin (such examples include hunger, sexual thoughts, apathy, negative emotions etc.).
Mankind consists of a threefold “being” called the tripartite. This means each person consists of three components; the body, soul and spirit. Your spirit, as a Christian, needs to overcome the body (the flesh). A lack of self-control means you give into temptations of the flesh which commonly leads you to sin and commit acts of depravity, that even the world accepts as “normal” but are contrary to the Word of God, the ultimate source of Truth.
Jesus states in the Gospels that indulging a bad thought in the heart is sin. This is no easy feat, if done without the help of the Holy Spirit, but Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us have self-control, which is one of the Fruits of the Spirit as presented by Paul the Apostle. To exhibit self-control we need the help of the Holy Spirit.
Such examples of a lack of self-control leading to sin include:
- Uncontrolled bodily hunger can lead to overeating and gluttony.
- Uncontrolled laziness and apathy can lead to slothfulness and being a sluggard (as written in Proverbs) who makes excuses for not doing work.
- Uncontrolled sexual drive can lead to sinful thoughts such as adultery, fornication (which is a sin to indulge the thought) and sinful acts of the body and the eyes.
- Uncontrolled anger can lead to unforgiveness, a lack of empathy and a lack of love (a sin breaking the second greatest commandment of God’s law, to love your neighbour as yourself).
God wants to see us as overcomers with the ability to have self-control over our body and emotions, and be strong in spirit. In many cases a lack of self-control can lead to sin and not true repentance. One of the Fruits of the Spirit is Self-Control. So we as Christians must ask for, seek and submit to the Holy Spirit, also known in the Bible as the Spirit of Truth, our Friend, Comforter and Helper, who can give us the power to overcome sin and lead to true repentance.