12.15.8 "The Power of Self-Restraint"

"The Power of Self-Restraint"

Micah 1:1-4:13
Revelation 6:1-17
Psalm 134:1-3
Proverbs 30:1-4

Micah 2:1 has a simple phrase in the Living Bible: "Because you can, you do." A while back, I was trying to lead a friend astray. There were goodies in the office. He was taking out a knife & cutting one in half. I was saying, "come on, take the whole thing! You deserve it!" He had the noble restraint to only eat a half. I on the other hand, couldn't stand to see that half left unattended, so I ate my treat, and his half as well. Because I could, I did.

Just because you "can" doesn't mean you "should". This thought fits into two DREAM principles. It takes the Discipline of Empowered through Biblical Training, combined with the Responsibility of Active Ministry Involvement.

Obviously, Empowered through Biblical Training is not just a Sunday Morning commitment type of thing. It's needs to be a part of our lifestyle. Part of who we are. We know that, and understand the need for daily application.

What about Active Ministry Involvement? How do we make that a part of daily life? You can't work in the nursery everyday, can you? So, do I just apply that principle to my life during seasons or times? Not if you understand the principle behind it. The principle is Responsibility. It beckons us to be good stewards of all that God has given us.

Think of it in terms of money. Because I can afford to go buy something doesn't mean I should! I must exercise restraint to be a good steward of what God has given me. Think of time. Just because I have time to do something doesn't automatically mean I should.

Think of the "auditing" process. It's stressful to get the letter from the IRS saying you will be audited. Stressful because you have to get your documents together, and you hope things are in order. Well, scripture clearly indicates that we are going to be audited. Everyone of us. It's not an "if" kind of thing. It will happen. What we have done with our lives will be weighed in the scales of God's judgment. What have we done with what he has given us?

So, how do we know how to be good stewards? By being Empowered through Biblical Training. When we know God's word & discipline ourselves to follow it, we make decisions based on Godly principle, and not on emotion or circumstance. Then we don't just do stuff because we can, we do it because we SHOULD.

The Body of Christ becomes healthy applying these principles. Living in self-restraint positions us to receive incredible things from the Lord. For one, it's because he can trust us. We've proven ourselves faithful. I Cor. 4:2 says, "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." This life we have must be marked with discipline and self-restraint.

The more we realize the great things God has done for us, and realize the blessings he has given us, the more we must constrain ourselves to do the right thing. When we see what's at stake, we must stay in the center of the path he has laid out for us. The risk is too great to live a life of doing things "just because we can". We must apply these principles to our life.

A word of clarification. It could be very easy to use this line of thought as an "excuse" not to get involved in ministry, or not to give of your resources. That's the opposite interpretation. The goal is that we must FOCUS our attention and activity on using our resources in an optimal way. There are times when there is need and we just have to jump in. Also, there are also many opportunities to just be distracted. The point is in discovering what God has called you do, and doing it with all of your heart. There is a balance point.



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ