Peter Fitch, St. Croix Vineyard May 13, 2018 Self-Control Peter Fitch, St. Croix Vineyard May 13, 2018

2 Peter 1: 5-7 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 

Tough word (a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:23) Root meaning: inner “dominion”, “rule”, “might”, “strength” Aristotle spends a great deal of time in the Nichomachean Ethics discussing what it is and what it isn’t (ultimately, it comes down, as usual, to his principle of The Golden Mean) He describes 4 ways of being: temperate (loving the good), continent (recognizing the good and acting in accordance with it), incontinent (recognizing the good but unable to act in accordance with it), intemperate (rejecting the good or loving the bad)

Best form of self-control: Prudence Loving the good and acting in accordance with it Setting a course and making the practical decisions that make it possible to attain the goal

Hebrew Wisdom Literature He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city (Proverbs 16:32) Like a city that is broken into and without walls Is a man who has no control over his spirit (Proverbs 25:28)

Other Voices “He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still” Lao-Tzu “The enemy is within the gates; it is with our own luxury, our own folly, our own criminality that we have to contend” Cicero “The ability to subordinate an impulse to a value is the essence of the proactive person” Stephen R. Covey “Ultimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself” Ellie Wiesel

Other Thoughts “Remember, it is not enough to be hit or insulted to be harmed, you must believe that you are being harmed. If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation. Which is why it is essential that we not respond impulsively to impressions; take a moment before reacting, and you will find it easier to maintain control” Epictetus “Self-control might be as passionate and as active as the surrender to passion...” W. Somerset Maugham

We have talked about it in many different ways David Moore: Reflect versus react Jonathan Haidt: Elephant and rider Controlling feelings—forgiveness Controlling thoughts—10 foot pass versus 100 foot pass Controlling speech (cleansing the heart) Controlling behavior (the value of a habit-filled life) Honesty, authenticity, humility, community and prayer can all play a significant role