… and to knowledge, self-control;
Summary: Without knowledge, we have no reason to use self-control. Without faith, we cannot know what knowledge to believe and use.
So far, Peter has told us to build on our faith in Jesus Christ by first adding goodness, then adding knowledge, and then self-control.
There is a progression here that is more than happenstance. The Spirit of God is speaking through Peter and explaining how the cow eats the cabbage. Without faith, nothing is possible (Matthew 13:58). Faith is the foundation for everything that follows.
Having goodness follow faith just seems right. It fits with our God who summed up “all the Law and the Prophets” with the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22: 37-40)
Only after we have committed to a foundation of faith and goodness is it safe to add knowledge. Here again, this makes total sense. Paul explains a bit more about this in his second letter to Timothy when he talks about people believers should avoid:
“They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3: 6-7)
The knowledge gained by these kinds of people does not lead to truth but mimics the faithful with a “form of godliness” (2 Timothy 3:5) that is not godly. This kind of knowledge, the kind without faith or goodness, is what Adam and Eve bargained for in the Garden of Eden. The serpent promised they would “be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3: 5) Knowing “good and evil” does not mean that we know the difference between the two.
The knowledge God wants us to have leads to an understanding of the difference between good and evil. It is only when we can see the difference between the two that we can use self-control.
It is our knowledge of God’s will and the prompting of the Holy Spirit that warns us of danger. Do we cross the line or not? This is where self-control comes in. Before we can use it, we have to know the difference between good and evil.
Application: Be aware of the decisions you make and how they reflect on our God.
Food for Thought: What areas do you think require the most self-control for a Christian?
Interesting question.
It likely depends on the person and the individual area of greatest weakness for that person. If I had to pick one area we all struggle with, it would be the sin of selfishness and pride. It takes self control to deny self. Jesus referred to this in Luke 9: 23: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.”
Rich,
So true! I like how you put it: “It takes self-control to deny self.”
Yep.
You nailed it! 🙂
First, thank you for the picture of the cow. I LOVE COWS and brown and white ones especially. This simple picture brought happiness to me today. The cow picture is a simple reminder of how little things such as this can bring smiles to ones day. And I like to think God loved cows as much as me because he put them in the beginning (Genesis 1:24 NKJV)
Now on to today’s discussion, areas requiring the most self-control for a Christian, that I believe depends on each Christian’s weaknesses. It is difficult to speak for each person. However, our world is filled with so much temptation and what was once wrong now seems to be right in the world’s eyes just as the bible warned us. (2 Tim 3:1-17) The way that seems right to man, but its end is the way to death (Proverbs 14:12).
Temptation is difficult and if one is a follower of Jesus, can lead to trying to serve two masters (Matt 6:24). Our flesh is weak (Matt 26:41) and even with a firm foundation in Christ, without the right support, it is possible to fall into temptation and stray. I would be Example A.
Though I try my best, I still fall short — every day. My faith is not a get of jail free card, but even with my faith, I am human and I sin. My sin is not one of addiction, adultery, lying, stealing, etc., but growing weary of waiting on Him to respond and deciding to put Him in a box. To me, that’s the worst kind of sin, playing God myself and trying to control my life when I have seen the actual fruits of how wonderful it can be when I let Him control and run everything.
In today’s world, there is temptation for control, money, drugs, adultery, open marriages, pornography, alcohol, gambling, etc. If you’re not happy, there’s 101 items to chose from to make you happy. EVERYTHING, but Jesus, is offered LOUDLY and OPENLY to our society.
In my opinion, every area requires the most self-control because it is easy to be led astray. Relying on Him, waiting on Him, trusting in Him – it’s making the choice and recommitment every day (sometimes every few seconds) to Him because we alone are not strong enough to have self-control without His intervention and strength. It’s suiting up for the battle every day and putting on His armor (Eph 6:10-18).
Darla,
I’m so glad you liked the cow! I did, too. 🙂 He seems like a happy cow!
You describe our situation well. We are like kids in a candy store. Satan has laid before us a smorgasbord of temptations, each with the promise of some kind of immediate gratification.
When we take the controls, we operate from a very limited view: What feels good now. When we allow God to be at the controls, he brings an eternal perspective to our life. He knows what is eternally good.
“Peter has told us to build on our faith in Jesus Christ by first adding goodness, then adding knowledge, and then self-control.” Just a side thought: these three speak to our heart, mind, and actions. Being mindful of these three make a good foundation for our relationship with Christ, and in turn our faith in Him.
What areas do you think require the most self-control for a Christian?
I agree with Rich! I think another area is waiting for the Lord. Both in asking for something on their heart and trusting also in that God will provide the direction for their lives. People have a tendency to want the desires of their heart now. They also have a tendency to want to know what’s going to happen. It takes self-control to ask and wait, and to live your life both accepting of changes and the unknowns.
2 Timothy 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
Chris,
Thank you for sharing your insight on the application to “heart, mind and action.” Very good!
I appreciate your point about waiting on the Lord, too. The self-control is keeping our hands off of the steering wheel until the Lord decides where we are going.
09-14-2021, 2 Peter 1:6a, What areas do you think require the most self-control for a Christian?
In a department store a young husband was minding the baby while his wife was making a purchase. The infant was wailing, but the father seemed quite controlled and unperturbed as he quietly said, “Easy now, Albert, control your temper.” A woman passing by remarked, “Sir, I must congratulate you! You seem to know just how to speak to a baby.” “Baby nothing!” came the reply. “MY name is Albert!”
In the world, self-control means controlling “self” and is something done in our own strength. As believers we know it is actually a gift of the Holy Spirit, the power to control ourselves, the power to choose God’s will over our own in all things.
Galatians 5:22-25, But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, SELF-CONTROL, AGAINST SUCH THINGS THERE IS NO LAW. 24 Now the ones who are in Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and its desires or, lusts. 25 Since we are living in or, by the Spirit, let us also be living in conformity with the Spirit.
There was a time, when I would struggle with sins and pray for the promised power of self-control to help me as I found myself in a crisis situation.
Today I have come to understand Galatians 5:22-25 as seen through “Matthew 6:33, But first and most importantly seek, strive after His kingdom and His righteousness His way of doing and being right, and all these things will be given to you also.”
I believe we should choose to focus on humbly seeking the attitude and character of Christ in my daily life through obedience to His will, and do the things that please God.
Seek the Holy Spirits power to live the fruits in Galatians 5:22-23 which are revealed BEFORE self-control, give these priority in my life, and self-control will be present. When we are so busy doing the DO’S given by God, the DON’T’S are seen while they are a temptation and quickly dispersed as we call on Christ.