What the Bible says about Self Control, Lack of
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Proverbs 23:20 God considers gluttony a character trait of an evil person, and so He tells us to avoid those who eat and drink too much. In this verse, meat represents food in general since meat partaken in a meal usually indicates a substantially filling meal. Since associating with gluttons could entice us to eat too much, it is wise to avoid close associations with them, as with any willfully sinning person. Familiarity with sin rubs off on us and wears us down. Martin G. Collins Gluttony: A Lack of Self-Control (Part Two) Related Topics: Gluttony | Gluttony as Sin | Lack of Self Control | Self Control | Self Control, Lack of

Ecclesiastes 12:8-13 Verse 8 reminds the reader where Solomon's treatise began. A person's life will end in vanity if he does not take advantage of the life of faith that God has given to him. His life will simply end in meaninglessness. Solomon advises us to fear God and keep His commandments. He is saying to eat and drink joyfully, but to do it in balance. We should never lose control of ourselves. We need to work with purpose and do it diligently. It is best to enjoy our marriage with our mate. We are to seek wisdom and use it. John W. Ritenbaugh Ecclesiastes and the Feast of Tabernacles (Part 2) Related Topics: Diligence | Ecclesiastes and the Feast of Tabernacles | Ecclesiastes as a Treatise on Life | Enjoying Life | Meaninglessness | Seeking Wisdom | Self Control | Self Control, Lack of | Using Wisdom | Vanity | Vanity of Physical life

Romans 14:20-21 If we are gluttonous and encourage or cause others who are weak to be gluttonous, part of the responsibility of their sin rests on us. This puts a great amount of pressure on us to be our brother's keeper, looking after his welfare without judging him. Martin G. Collins Gluttony: A Lack of Self-Control (Part Two) Related Topics: Encouraging Others to Sin | Gluttony | Inducing Others to Sin | Lack of Self Control | Self Control | Self Control, Lack of

Ephesians 5:30-32 Just as Jesus reached back to God's instruction to Adam and Eve in His teaching about marriage in Matthew 19, the apostle similarly refers to Genesis 2:24, when Eve is first presented to Adam. This verse, often called the "leave and cleave" verse, reveals that there should be a definite break between one's life as a child and life as an adult spouse. To put it another way, a man's life under his father and mother should be completely separate from his new life in which he is over his own household. According to this verse, the newly married couple should set up a house on their own because to do otherwise confuses the roles and responsibilities that God desires to work on through this relationship. If a man remains under his father and mother, he cannot be the lord of his own manor, as it were; he cannot really be a head to his wife. In the same way, if the couple lives in her parent's home, the wife has divided loyalties. Who is really her head: her husband or her father? For the marriage to work best, the couple should not remain in the home of either set of parents because it does not allow for the intended relationship between husband and wife. It is one thing if there is some sort of hardship that forces the couple to live with the parents for a short time, but to fulfill God's command and purpose in Genesis 2:24, a newly married couple should set up their own household as soon as practicable. A man should be king of his own castle and his wife, his queen without interference from parents or in-laws. The parents can be there to give needed advice, to lend a hand, and to watch the children from time to time, but for the couple to grow and develop the character that they need both now and for God's Kingdom, they should be on their own. This means that, barring other complications, a couple should not marry if they are unable or not mature enough to set up a separate household. They should put off marriage until the husband can support his wife financially and emotionally. Paul does say in I Corinthians 7:9, that if a man and woman cannot control themselves, "it is better to marry than to burn with passion." However, that piece of advice has frequently been abused by people who are unwilling to practice self-control—a sign that one or both of them is indeed immature. Richard T. Ritenbaugh Marriage—A God-Plane Relationship (Part Five) Related Topics: "Leave and Cleave" Verse | Family as Building Block of Government | Family as Building Block of Society | Husband-Wife Relationships | Immaturity | Immaturity,Spiritual | Marriage as a God-Plane Relationship | Marriage Customs | Marriage- A God Plane Relationship | Self Control, Lack of | Unity of Husband and Wife

 

		The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. This daily newsletter provides a starting point for personal study, and gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. See what over 155,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Email Address:     A Faithful VersionKing James VersionNew International VersionNew King James Version Leave this field empty
We respect your privacy. Your email address will not be sold, distributed, rented, or in any way given out to a third party. We have nothing to sell. You may easily unsubscribe at any time.