Harvesting the Fruit of Temperance

“But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness
temperance:
against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23

As we celebrate the fruitful blessings of another year, let’s take a look at the last fruit of the Spirit listed in the Galatians 5 text that we’ve been studying. The final fruit mentioned in this passage is “temperance.” Like the other words listed in these verses, we can tend to take it for granted and assume we understand what it means and how it should influence our decisions and behaviors. However, when we allow God’s Spirit to lead us, we should see a harvest of His fruit and not our own. Our lives should be more calm, controlled, and productive in a garden yielding Godly fruitfulness.

Sometimes, as is the way of festive events, the Christmas season can often get or feel out of control. Agenda’s and activities threaten balanced schedules, budgets, and healthy lifestyles. If we’re not careful, our planning, preparing, and partying can drain the holiday spirit right out of our festivity. This is one place that a little temperance can come in handy. (You know…kind of like a personal chef, housekeeper, or shopper? Lol?)

Temperance is a benefit of God’s Spirit that can bring our lives more tranquility. Notice in the Greek and English dictionaries there are some pretty clear-cut definitions that spell out how God desires us to behave.

The Greek defines Temperance like this:

Temperance – Greek #1466 – egkrateia
From G1468; self control (especially continence): –
(Strong’s Concordance)

The dictionary defines “self-control” like this:

Self-control – noun
: restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires.
(Merriam-Websters, 2022 Online Dictionary)

The word restraint intrigued me. That’s not something our culture programs, prepares, or promotes us to incorporate in our lives today. We’re more likely to be encouraged to go for the gold, grab it all, get more, and get it as fast as possible. We’re not usually taught to have restraint in any area of our lives whether it be in our:

• Appetites
• Attitudes
• Actions
• Activities
• Aggressions

Practicing self-control takes a conscious effort. We’re prone to overextend, overindulge, and overwhelm ourselves in our efforts. We can begin to settle into a place where we barely thrive in a “just surviving mode” while destroying ourselves physically and spiritually, along with those we love. Soon our lives control us instead of us controlling them.

To be totally transparent, I often struggle with restraint. I eat what and when I shouldn’t. I spend when I don’t have the funds. I overbook my schedule. I go out when I should stay in. I whine when I should be grateful. I overindulged when I should abstain. I resent when I should forgive. I listen when I should close my ears. I watch when I should close my eyes. I speak when I should be silent. Sadly, these behaviors do not exhibit the fruit of temperance.

When we harvest the fruit of temperance, we choose to use and consume God gifts of spiritual and physical health, strength, energy, and resources with self-control and restraint. We don’t carelessly cater to our impulses, emotions and desires.

If we want to harvest Godly fruitfulness in our lives, we must let God’s Spirit influence our behaviors. He’s not against us celebrating and enjoying the fruit of our labors. However, we honor Him when we show restraint with a grateful heart.

Bring It Home

Are we seeing God’s fruit of temperance in our gardens?

Praying for you as we grow together,
Smiles, BRC