For Starters

A young father was pushing a baby buggy down the street. He seemed to be unruffled by the bawling of the baby and softly said, "Easy, Albert! Control yourself! Keep calm!" The baby bawled more loudly. "Now, now, Albert, keep your temper!" the father went on. A mother, passing by, said, "I must congratulate you on your self-control. You surely know how to speak to a baby--calmly and gently!" She patted crying baby on the head, and asked soothingly, "What's wrong, Albert?" "No, no!" exclaimed the father, "the baby's name is Johnny. I'm Albert!"

No form of sin does more to corrupt society than lack of self control. For embittering life, for breaking up communities, for destroying the most sacred relationships. for devastating homes, this evil stands alone.

So, What's the Story?

Joseph was a young man of around 20 when he found himself at the top of the whole household of Potiphar, the chief body guard ( Pharoah's elite troops). Integrity and prosperity had been the hallmark of everything that Joseph managed for Potiphar. But he was also the object of desire of Potiphar's wife. Again and again Joseph was "hit on", and Joseph was no eunuch. One day Potiphar's wife found Joseph alone in the house and decided to make a bold move on the young man. When he refused to respond to her more subtle attempts at seduction, she finally grabbed his outer cloak in passion and boldly invited him, "Come lie with me". Though likely having his self control taxed to the limit, Joseph still refused by quickly running out of the house and unfortunately leaving behind his cloak in the hand of a "woman scorned". In the short term, Joseph's self control cost him dearly, because "Mrs. Potiphar" falsely charged him of making advances on her, and innocent Joseph ended up in jail. But in the long term, God rewarded his self control with the second highest office in Egypt, a wife and family, the reuniting of his own family, and the opportunity to be instrumental in sparing the family from a great famine throughout the region. (see Genesis 39-50)

Self control, like honesty, has a simple definition, it is practically self-explanitory; but it has application to so many parts of our life. Self control touches on almost every other facet of life, because it is self control that we must have to turn away from inappropriate sexual activity, gluttony, stealing, lying, angry outbursts, revenge, improper language, etc. Almost literally self control in the New Testament's original Greek language means to "get a grip"! It means having a grip or grasp on one's passions and desires.

Yet, as strong as our fleshly desires are, self control is a most difficult virtue to obtain and cultivate--especially in a world which says that we should all "go for the gusto", "let it all hang out", and have "no limits". The world calls on us to give-in to desire, to be impulsive and passionate, and to let our feelings dictate our conduct.

But God's word calls on us to "get a grip"!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV).

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7, NIV).

So What?

* List some things are difficult to "get a grip" on.
* What can we do as Christians to better control ourselves?
Have you ever heard of the term "GIGO"-- Garbage In, Garbage Out? How could that help?
What can the story of Joseph in Egypt teach us about self control?