Self-Control

Guest Blogger: Chris Chowdhury

The other day, my wife pointed out how Galatians 5:22 says, "the fruit of the Spirit is" instead of "the fruits of the Spirit are".  This implies the fruit of the Spirit comes altogether, as a package deal.  You either have fruit or you don't.  For a while, this didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.  At least, until I really thought about it.  When I looked over the list, I asked God to show me if my life really does bear this fruit and, thankfully, He showed me.  How?  By reminding me of a time I lacked the fruit of the Spirit...

A few years ago (before Ruth and I were married) my complete lack of the fruit of the Spirit was made known.  It was a stressful time in my life with school and family issues and I was not doing everything I should to grow in relationship with the Holy Spirit.  One night, I was so stressed out and angry about things I went into a fit of rage (see Galatians 5:20).  My reaction was so severe, I actually scared Ruth (even though she was not the subject of my anger).  It was a complete lack of self-control.  Aside from emotionally hurting my future wife, I was dismayed to see what else this episode revealed about me: I did not have the fruit of the Spirit like I had thought.  In a split-second instance of rage I spilled the beans about my life (to myself)...
My love was more of a shallow and self-serving politic.
My joy was really positive thinking and plastic smiles.
I was not satisfied with peace - I created strife.
I was losing my patience with God.
My kindness was selective and unreal.
Any goodness in me was a public facade, not reality.
My lack of self-control sold me out for what I truly was: disconnected from God.  Clearly, I was not living in the Spirit or growing in my relationship with Him.  I may have displayed other fruit in my life, but self-control was the deal-breaker proving the real deficiency.  It had been a while since my life beared a full harvest. 

Thankfully, this has changed.  The grace of God and how He receives us in our most pathetic moments made a way for me to connect again with the Spirit and trust Jesus with the things I was stressed and angry about.  God has reminded me of this event to show me how I've learned to submit my reactions to Him better now and be led by my passion for Christ more than anything.

When we lose our cool or give in to a passion other than Christ, we fall off the wagon of our Christian life and everyone sees our failure.  But here, God desires to restore us and use this moment to call us closer and further with Him.  His desire is for us to bear all of the fruit of the Spirit - and He will do it in you!
Have you lacked self-control?
Have you ever lost it?
Is self-control the deal-breaker for you? Or any other fruit of the Spirit?
God is helping you bear fruit. What is He asking you to do next?

Comments

[Netta]

"fruits...ARE"
So cool... it's a group, a set!
thanks

[Pants]

Man... have I lost?!? Dang, I can totally relate :) I wish that I hadn't have "lost it", but through my "loosing it" God showed me who he was in a way that has changed my life and love for Him forever. This post rocks Thanks, Pants

[Jenn Cady]

I have realized we all struggle with our "flesh" or we wouldn't need God! So break me God..let me see I am nothing and you are EVERYTHING! So God has asked me to do a food drive for the homeless and I have no idea what I am doing...just jumping!

[Ruth Chowdhury]

Yes, I have definitely found that self-control can be the deal-breaker for me as well. I think you're right on when you say that a lack of self-control can show a deficiency of the rest of the fruit. My prayer is for God to help me grow in my relationship with Him so that each part of the fruit of the Spirit displays itself in my every day living, especially when it comes to self-control.