Self control 4.1.07
1) In the 1960’s Walter Mischel tested some four-year-old children.
2) These tests were related to self control, and the experiments are referred to as the “Marshmallow Test.”
3) Each tested 4 year old child was given a marshmallow and told they could eat it whenever they wanted.
4) If a child waited for least 15 minutes, they would receive another marshmallow.
5) Videos of the children show some interesting results.
6) Kids who tried to wait the 15 minutes are shown to be squirming, kicking, and hiding their eyes.
7) These children were trying to control themselves for a 15 minute period.
8) While some 4 years old struggled for self control, others did not hesitate to gobble down their marshmallow.
9) Some children didn’t get past the first minute of the test. Others did make it the full 15 minutes.
10) These children were then followed as they continued to grow.
11) It was found that their choice about marshmallows at age four correlated with later success in life.
12) Children who had showed self control at age 4 got better SAT scores and got into better colleges.
13) Those who wanted another marshmallow almost immediately often turned out to be bullies.
14) In the Bible we read about what some 4 year old children were tested for: self control.
15) According to our Scripture reading (Acts 24:25), Paul spoke to a ruler about “self control.”
16) Paul also spoke of self control in Gal. 5:23; he said it is a fruit of the spirit.
17) Peter used this same word in his list of Christian graces (2 Pet. 1:6).
18) People sometimes think the Bible has very little to do modern day life.
19) This belief shows just how little many know about the Word of God.
a) Self control is one of many examples that reveals how the Bible is still relevant to man.
b) Psychologists pay attention to self control. Sometimes they have different names for it.
c) They may refer to it as “impulse control” or “self regulation.”
d) New descriptions are just that: new ways to describe something that has been around for a long time.
20) Self control is an interesting concept and it covers a wide range of areas.
21) In some cases people control themselves because they are afraid of someone or something.
22) In other circumstances, a person may exercise self control because they respect someone or something.
23) Self control may be exercised because someone uses their will.
24) In other cases, people lack self control and have no will to control themselves.
a) The Internet is a great tool for several reasons.
b) One of the things that it does is help show where society is and may be headed.
c) It does not take a lot of advanced looking to find some very sad information on the web.
d) On the Internet anyone can find videos of fence crashing.
e) Kids hurl their bodies into a homeowner’s wooden fence and break a section of it.
f) There are also “fight videos” on the net.
g) Every single day our country has illustrations of people doing things that are out of control.
h) Self control is becoming more and more a lost quality. Behavior is not watched or checked.
i) When this reaches a certain level, a country cannot thrive, prosper, or even survive.
j) Self control is a basic ingredient for decency in a society.
25) It is such an important quality it needs to be instilled in people at an early age.
26) This is an important point because our society is looking for ways to better things.
a) At times our government talks about wanting to reduce the size of classes in public schools.
b) Incentive programs for teachers are proposed. There are “lots of fixes” from politicians.
c) More than 40 years ago some studies hinted at a giant root for many of our problems: self control.
d) This information was offered to some officials and they didn’t want it.
e) Today society is beginning to see the value and the need for self-control.
f) When parents lack this quality, it is a serious issue.
g) When children are not taught to develop self-control, things go from bad to downright awful.
27) Self control is related to just about every social issue we have.
28) Teen pregnancy and fornication abound; a lack of self control are involved in these matters.
29) Teen smoking, teen drug use, involvement with alcohol…self control is a major factor in each case.
30) If our world were a friendly environment for Christians, there would not be much need for self control.
a) Our world is a hostile environment so self control for God’s people is crucial.
b) Even before modern times, self control was an important quality.
c) Let’s look at some Bible examples, starting with Gen. 39.
31) Joseph was brought to Egypt and he became a servant in the house of Potiphar.
32) Poitphar bought him. Joseph was not free, but God greatly blessed him (verse 2).
33) It did not take very long before Potiphar was able to see that Joseph was very helpful (verse 4).
34) A time came when Joseph was basically running the household (verse 5).
a) Potiphar was married and his wife lacked self control – verse 7 –READ.
b) This man’s wife had some desires that should have been checked but that was not her choice.
c) She lacked self control. Had this been just one time, that would have been too much.
d) Notice what is said in verse 10a – READ.
e) This woman had no interest in self control.
f) We know what Potiphar’s wife was like; what about Joseph? 10b – READ.
g) In this story we find a wide range of self control.
h) Joseph was in full control while another person in the household practiced none.
i) We want to be on the end of the stick where Joseph was.
j) When people have no or little self control, they are just begging for trouble.
k) A lack of self control will hurt people in this life and destroy them in eternity.
35) Another story of self control comes from the first chapter of Daniel.
a) King Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem and he was successful in his military campaign.
b) He came back to Babylon with the spoils of war.
c) He also told one of his men to select some Jewish youths.
d) This was done, and Daniel was one of the young fellows who was chosen.
e) These men were “appointed a daily portion of the king’s dainties” (Dan. 1:5).
36) Daniel said he did not want this food as it would “defile” him (verse 8).
37) Some have no self control when it comes to food. This was not true for Daniel.
38) Daniel and others were offered the best food that was available, but he said “no.”
39)
40) Self control usually involves something that is attractive.
41) Self control usually means we say “no” to something we probably want or we try to limit something.
42) In the case of Dan. 1, we find self control being exercised on the part of young people.
a) This point is important because it shows youth can exercise self control.
b) The world showed us about 50 years ago that even some 4 year olds can exercise self control.
c) Since that is true, teenagers can exercise self control.
d) Parents sometimes say they have children that cannot be controlled.
e) Control starts from within a person. It begins with self. This is something kids need to be taught.
f) When children do not have that control or lose it, parents need to step in and offer correction.
g) Young people can have self control and so can adults.
h) Certainly we find self control in the life of Jesus.
43) Jesus was led into the wilderness and tempted by the devil.
44) By the time of the three recorded temptations, Jesus had already been tempted for 40 days.
45) Jesus had demonstrated self control for more than a month.
46) Now we find Him facing a final round of testing.
a) Jesus was hungry (Mt. 4:2) and the devil suggested He turn stones into bread.
b) Such an offer would have been especially tempting but Jesus said no.
c) Jesus was given the chance to cast Himself down and be rescued by angels.
d) He again used self control.
e) He was offered the kingdoms of the world but He had enough self control to say no.
47) God has told us to practice self control and there are good reasons for this.
48) One reason is found in Prov. 25:28 – READ.
49) Not having self control is like living in a defenseless city.
50) Not having self control leaves us with a life that is on the same level as an animal.
a) If a lion or dog sees a piece of meat, he will probably go after it.
b) God made animals and He also made us. There are differences between man and beast.
c) One difference is that we are to learn how to control ourselves.
51) This control involves several areas of life.
a) Self control is to be exercised over our thoughts – 2 Cor. 10:4-5 – READ.
b) Self control is to be involved with our words (speech) – Jas. 3.
c) James says there are devices to control horses (Jas. 3:3).
d) He said there are things to control ships (verse 4).
e) He says the tongue is more difficult than horses and ships (verse 8).
f) If a person can control the tongue (verse 2), he or she can control the whole body.
g) God tells us to work on self control when it comes to our speech.
h) This involves what we say, how we say things, when we say things, where we say things, and why we say things.
i) Sometimes self control means we will be involved in denying self – Mt. 16:24 – READ.
j) The old life (before Christianity) is often a life without much self control.
k) People commonly do what they want, say what they want, and think what they want.
52) Christianity involves repentance (a change, and this is a change for the better).
53) Part of this change is the Christian virtue of self control.
54) Without self control we will not advance very far in the Christian faith.
55) Even non-Christians will not do well without self control.
a) Without self control, people create more debt than they can pay.
b) They drink too much and suffer consequences. Gamblers take bigger and bigger risks.
c) Self control is a critical component in life, and God says this is a cardinal quality in Christianity.
56) Do we have it?