I love fantasy football! However, it doesn't always bring out the best sides of me. I am a VERY competitive person!
A few years ago, there was one rookie I really liked, and when our rookie draft came around, I was all set to draft him. But a close friend sniped the player right before I could take him!
This player hasn't really had a great career, so I should be thrilled I didn't get him, right? Wrong. For some reason, I have always wanted to get this player, probably because I couldn't have him!
Fast forward to this season. During the draft, my friend decided to drop the player I wanted so badly. I could finally get him, but I had no more draft picks! I started furiously contacting others in the league, trying to make a trade to get this guy.
I finally got someone who was interested, and as I typed out my offer and hit send, I thought, “What are you doing? This player isn't any good. Why are you making this deal?”
I was sacrificing good, young players I needed for a player I did not need. I had many other better running backs already. I didn't need this one, but I WANTED him.
I realized at that moment that I needed to practice some self-control. I told my potential trade partner, “Never mind.” I explained the situation to him and what I was learning about self-control. Of course, he laughed at my silliness.
At that moment, I started realizing the importance of self-control in our lives. Sure, my lack of self-control in fantasy football wouldn't have caused me to stumble into sin, but it could have opened the door to lacking self-control in other places.
No wonder the Bible lists self-control as the Fruit of the Spirit. It is an essential stop-gap between us and sin.
Proverbs 25:28 says, "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." (ESV)
A lack of self-control allows the enemy access to us. Our defenses are broken, and he can attack.
Peter shows us the reason to develop self-control.…
Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ….Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
(2 Peter 1:5-8, 10-11, ESV)
That is pretty heavy! Self-control can make or break us spiritually!
Men, we need to develop this character trait. We need to exhibit self-control and resist when:
-Our phones tempt us to look at things we shouldn’t see.
-Our credit cards urge us to buy what we cannot afford.
-Your egos encourage you to flirt with a coworker who thinks you are the greatest and praises you in ways you don’t receive at home.
-Your temper flares, and you want to explode on the ones you love.
-Your old addiction comes calling and wants you to return to it.
The list could go on and on.
We need to develop this Fruit of the Spirit of self-control. We must keep our walls and defenses solid and resist the traps looking to entangle us. Take this seriously and ask God to give you an iron resolve and self-control made of steel.
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