Last but not least
In the pecking order of spiritual fruits, self-control would be hard pressed to compete with love, joy and peace. This may be because, on the surface, it sounds life-denying rather than life-affirming. But partly, also, because many of us have no great desire to cultivate it.
But in a surprising passage in Acts (24:25) we read that Paul, when summoned before the Roman governor Felix, 'discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come'. It would be intriguing to know whether Paul mentioned it because Felix was notably lacking in self-control. But if Paul sandwiched this one quality between those great biblical concepts of righteousness and judgment he must have thought it to be a cardinal element of Christian character.
Why, then, are we so unenthusiastic about self-control? To start with, of course, we enjoy so many of the things that it is assumed to forbid - like tantrums, sex and cream cakes. In fact, however, it doesn't speak of prohibition but of discipline. Our culture's emphasis on individual freedom, and the lure of advertisements like 'You want it: you buy it', deny the value of self-discipline.
There is, of course, a lot of difference between tantrums, sex and cream cakes. Tantrums are, by definition, wrong - the self-indulgent rantings of attention-seeking. Sex is a wonderful gift from God, if used according to the maker's instructions; though even wonderful gifts must not be used to excess. This also might be said to apply to cream cakes.
Self-control speaks of inner strength, of the ability to resist thoughtless self-indulgence, frivolous conversation and inessential expenses, and to focus on what is relevant and important - what builds up character and enriches the lives of others. It can overcome our obsessions and addictions. It resists 'the world, the flesh and the devil'.
The blandishments of the world, the flesh and the devil are insidious, and we do not in ourselves have that inner strength to resist them. That is why self-control is the fruit not simply of the human will but of the mighty Spirit.
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