The Fruit of the Spirit - Pt 10

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV). As if the first eight characteristics weren’t daunting enough, the Apostle Paul now says the Holy Spirit desires to produce “self-control.” This word is translated temperance and its root means “to be strong in a thing. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says a person with self control is “one who masters his desires and passions.” So often self control is viewed in the negative; keeping restraint in the face of temptations, evil emotions, or other sin. Such a view is only a partial definition. Self-control also describes your ability to apply the numerous gifts and powers of God in your life at the right moment, in the right way and according to God's will not your own. According to Vines it is “the various powers bestowed by God upon man are capable of abuse; the right use demands the controlling power of the will under the operation of the Spirit of God.” Daniel Goldman wrote the following: The essence of emotional self-regulation is the ability to delay impulse in the service of a goal. The importance of this trait to success was shown in an experiment begun in the 1960s by psychologist Walter Mischel at a preschool on the Stanford University campus. Children were told that they could have a single treat, such as a marshmallow, right now. However, if they would wait while the experimenter ran an errand, they could have two marshmallows. Some preschoolers grabbed the marshmallow immediately, but others were able to wait what, for them, must have seemed an endless 20 minutes. To sustain themselves in their struggle, they covered their eyes so they wouldn’t see the temptation, rested their heads on their arms, talked to themselves, sang, and some even tried to sleep. These kids got the two-marshmallow reward. The interesting part of this experiment came in the follow-up. The children who as 4-year-olds had been able to wait for the two marshmallows were, as adolescents, still able to delay gratification in pursuing their goals. They were more socially competent and self-assertive, and better able to cope with life’s frustrations. In contrast, the kids who grabbed the one marshmallow were, as adolescents, more likely to be stubborn, indecisive, and stressed. Delayed gratification is almost a lost trait in our current culture. Some time ago Mary and I were sitting down with my son, Aaron, at a very nice Italian restaurant in Washington D.C. The server came and filled our water glasses and proceeded to get our drink orders. We recited them around the table and off he went. I thought that a bit odd in that he did not rush to get at least some order of appetizer from us. He came back with the drinks and some dipping oil with fresh bread. And he left again. I thought, he must be very busy with other tables. Later I would come to know that our table was his only assignment. He continued to come back slowly checking on us getting the next course in our meal. We sat, leisurely talked, and ate a wonderful meal together. It was a far cry from the fast food mentality of our culture. Had I wanted to get in and get out as quickly as possible, I would have been thoroughly disappointed. I find life is often played out like that. We lose the joy of waiting by demanding the immediate. Let the Holy Spirit slow you down through self-control. You won’t miss a thing worth having!