In this age when the world is so easily accessible—we can have what we want when we want it—this fruit of the Holy Spirit so needs to be displayed in our lives. The word “temperance” simply means self control. Marvin Vincent in his book, Word Studies in the New Testament, gave this definition, “holding in hand the passions and desires.” This same word is also used in two other passages of Scripture: Acts 24:25 and 2 Peter 1:6. In Acts 24:25, Paul reasoned with Felix about righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come.
There are three areas where temperance can affect us—our bodies, our thoughts and our emotions. We will look first at that which affects our body.
Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Just think on this for a moment: that our bodies are the very dwelling place of God! That is a solemn responsibility. Everything that is done in and to our bodies matters to God. Paul could say, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not profitable.” We are at liberty to sleep, but is a lot of sleep profitable? I like the example of the Lord Jesus in Mark’s Gospel. After He came to the end of a long day, they brought unto Him all that were diseased and possessed with demons. He probably didn’t get too much sleep that night, but He was up early the next morning to go to a solitary place to pray. What temperance was displayed by the Lord Jesus when He could have slept, but He didn’t because prayer was a priority. Peter came looking for Him the next morning and found Him not sleeping but praying. I believe this had a big impact on Peter and so it should in our lives.
And what of our thoughts? As evil thoughts come into our minds we should stop them right at that moment and not dwell on them. Paul tells us to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). The devil today is attacking the mind of the Christian and how we need to guard our minds. A wrong thought might come in about a brother or sister. Do we dwell on it or do we show temperance and put that thought out of our mind and start to pray for that brother or sister? Our thoughts should be centered on Christ. This is what Philippians 4:8 tells us we should think on: whatever things are true, honest, just, pure and lovely. All these things can be said of Christ. Think on Him, Christian.
We will now look at that which affects our emotions. In this age, everyone has rights and we are all taught to look out for ourselves. How we need to show temperance—this grace of the Holy Spirit—to the world around us and also to our brothers and sisters. How do we react when some one honks at us when they were clearly in the wrong or something is said about us that is untrue? Do we get angry and set things straight or do we, by the power of the Spirit of God, display temperance? Let’s look and see when temperance is used in the Bible, and what effects it had on others.
David is a great example of this in 1 Samuel 24. Saul and his three thousand men were out to hunt down and kill David. Unknown to Saul, he went into a cave occupied by David. David could have easily killed Saul with one stroke of the sword; he would then have ascended the throne. There would have been no more poverty, no more being hunted like an animal. But David didn’t kill Saul because he wanted to honor his Lord. What temperance was shown here, even as his band of men encouraged him to kill Saul. What an affect it had on Saul as David came forth and showed him that he could have killed him. The great and mighty Saul was reduced to tears. He was chastened by the disciplined self-humbling of David.
When people wrong us and we show temperance, could it not be possible that we, by our display of this fruit of the Spirit of God, point this person to the Saviour?
In the garden, as Judas and his band of men were coming to take the Lord Jesus away, Peter drew a sword and severed the ear of Malchus. Peter was evidencing no temperance here; he was ready to fight. But when you come to Peter’s first epistle, you see a changed man. In chapter 2 of 1 Peter, you see Peter promoting this fruit of the Spirit. As he writes, the recipients of his epistle were being slandered, they were being buffeted, and they were suffering. How should they respond? Peter tells them to do good. As men wrong you and speak ill of you, follow the Saviour’s example, “Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously” (1 Pet. 2:23).
Men wrongly accused the Lord Jesus, pulled the beard from His cheek, and spat in His face. The One whom John saw in Revelation has a voice “as the sound of many waters” but that day He “opened not His mouth.” What temperance! The One who created all things, it could be said of Him that He was hungry but would not turn stones to bread, was thirsty but would not drink. What temperance! Neither the writer nor the reader would be here today if it were not for these wonderful displays of temperance shown by the Lord Jesus Christ.
In all areas of our lives—our body, thought life, and emotions—we should, by the power of the Spirit of God, display this needed grace of temperance. The world would condemn temperance, but think what impact we could have for our Saviour if we lived Spirit- filled, self-controlled lives.
Paul and his wife Melonie serve the Lord as missionaries in the Republic of Ireland. Paul is an evangelist and Bible teacher and is involved in pioneer work within the Republic.