BQ: Moving on in looking at the fruits of the Spirit, I've taken a shine to self-control. I am a whole lot better with self-control than I used to be, but it took a lot of learning things the hard way to convince me that learning the easy way is preferable. What is self-control? 

A: Nothing too tricky this time. Most definitions agree that the original words carried the meaning of, "having power over, mastering, curbing, restraining." So what is self-control all about? Paul used the analogy of an athlete to help us understand, saying, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." (1 Cor 9:24-25)

Sometimes we follow our desires down dark alleys rather than Christ's beautifully-lit path, indulging in any number of things—drinking, fornicating, or even just being mean. If we do, there's simply no way to say that we're like the athletes that Paul describes, who run for an eternal victory. 

Are you running with self-control?
 

BQ:  Sometimes, as Christians, we forget to examine ourselves, or we make light of our flaws. It can be easy to say that some of the fruits of the Spirit aren't all that important, or to say, "Well, I have ENOUGH of this attribute to get by, I 'spose." What warning does Paul give us?

A: 1 Cor 9:26 "So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 

Sometimes we get preachy to others without examining ourselves very accurately, and it's really easy to do this where self-control is concerned, since we can kind of make it a gray area and say, "Well, I have a DECENT amount of self-control...ish." I don't sleep around...too much...just when I slip up. I don't get drunk...often. I'm above reproach...sometimes. 

As Christians, we need to hold ourselves to a high standard, to aim to be above reproach at all times, lest, as Paul says, we find ourselves disqualified.

BQ: I've been using 1 Cor 9 to look at self-control, where Paul relates self-control to athletes competing for a prize. There are two main focuses of self-control. One, and the one that is most often focused on, is refraining from doing what we know we shouldn't do. That's a good goal. What's the other aspect?

A: The other aspect of self-control is one I like better. Instead of refraining from doing what we shouldn't, it's making ourselves do what we know we should do, and aiming to be the best in it. 1 Cor 9:24 says, "24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." 

If you're looking to exhibit more self-control in your life, don't just look to NOT DO bad things—aim to be the best in doing the best things. Matthew 22:37says it best: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Don't aim for "not bad." Aim for "always great." 

BQ: What does God say that we are without self-control?

A: "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." (Proverbs 25:28) In ancient times, cities had walls as a first line of defense against enemies. Our adversary is Satan, and if we decide that self-control isn't that important, we're just like that city—totally undefended and pretty much useless.  Don't be a smashed up city—have some self-control!
 

BQ: As Christians, we must have self-control. What do we need to have control over? (BTW, Thayer's notes that "under control" denotes "making something a slave." Keep this in mind.)

A: This stuff's obvious, but it's important to review. Firstly, we need to restrain our bodies.  "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions(Rom 6:12).  “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything" (1 Cor 6:12).

The concept of enslavement is pretty important. We really have two options: enslave our own bodies to do our will, or be enslaved/controlled by our lusts, and thus out of control ourselves. 
 

BQ: Today's the last day we'll spend on self-control. Yay, I know, FINALLY Necessary is done! :P The Bible differentiates the results of self-control and a lack of it. What does it specify?

A: Well, the bad stuff is mostly summed up in Gal 5:19-21: "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these."

The opposing front which we should be more interested in is, "Finally, brethren, whatever is TRUE, whatever is HONORABLE, whatever is RIGHT, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVABLE and GRACIOUS, whatever is COMMENDABLE, if there is any EXCELLENCE and if anything WORTHY OF PRAISE, dwell on these things." (Phil 4:8)

It's easy to assess your self-control by looking at what you dwell on. If you're envious, drunk, thinking about some rivalry, etc., you're doin' it wrong. Choose some excellence instead. It'll make your life way better!