Adding Temperance to Our Faith

If adding virtue and knowledge to our faith wasn’t hard enough, we’re also instructed to add “temperance.” I’ll admit that I took what that meant for granted. A closer study showed I didn’t have it right. How could I add temperance to my faith if I didn’t know what it was? So, I decided to dig a little deeper.

Temperance only appears four times in Scripture and each reference has the same Greek definition. It is the word, “egkrateia” (#1466 in the Strong’s Concordance) and it basically means “Self-control.” That seemed simple and clear enough for me and I think most people understand the basic idea of controlling themselves. However, the definition went one step further than I expected and involved more responsibility.

The Greek definition also included “especially continence” which refers to sexual issues. I wasn’t really clear how that tied to our faith. So I researched the definitions further and the Merriam-Webster (2021 Online) Dictionary defined self-control and temperance as:

That helped a great deal. We aren’t just supposed to have faith to believe. We are also to have control over our behaviors, including sexual.

Believing is just the beginning of our faith journey. Temperance is what helps us stay on God’s righteous path.

Self-control is synonymous with discipline and discretion. It takes a lot of both to maintain control of our wills and ways. Maintaining control is tough when relationships, security, situations, agendas, and motives get out of order. Temptations taunt, addictions arise, fear grows, depression hinders, tempers flare, guilt haunts and our faith gets tested.

Amazingly, adding temperance to our faith wasn’t meant as an impossible challenge from God. He didn’t create guidelines to make us live in defeat. He gave us boundaries to keep us safe, sound and strong in our faith. 

We don’t have to maintain self-control alone. When we accept God’s Son as our Savior (Romans 10:9-13), His very own Spirit comes to dwell in us (Ephesians 1:12 &13). And the fruit produced in us by His Holy Spirit includes the temperance required. (Galatians 5:22-23).

I’ll admit I tend to take things to the extreme and self-control is a daily challenge. The things I find the hardest to control are complaining, critiquing, and carbs. I complain too much, am too critical of myself and others, and consume way too many carbs. I know it’s detrimental to my spiritual, emotional and physical well-being but I do it anyway with pounds of regret.

          Before we address the need for temperance, we have to decide where we’re out of control. We can’t continue to excuse and indulge our lapses in self-constraint without considering the ramifications of our behaviors and the effects they have on our faith. We must learn to control our:

• Impulses – avoid sudden, irrational actions. Think first.
• Emotions – avoid reacting in fear or anger.  Stay Calm.
• Desires – avoid satisfying sinful pleasures. Act Right.

Our uncontrolled struggles affect our lives and others’. That is why we must work diligently to add temperance to our faith and another rose to our vase.

Bring It Home

Does your faith need more temperance today?

Praying for you as we grow together,

Smiles, BRC