Saturday, July 20, 2013

FILL MY CUP, LORD - 6

FILL MY CUP, LORD
Marilyn Barber
As printed in The Voice of Evangelism

How our cup needs to be filled with self-control!  This is not an easy one but it involves so many facets of our life.  The need for self-control not only involves the physical and material part of life but in concerns of the spiritual side of life as well. Self-control is also not only needed but very necessary.

Let us begin with the physical part of life.  I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  (Ps.139:14)  God made us and we need to take care of our bodies.  We pollute our bodies with things that cause addiction.  It does not begin that way and there may be no intention of such ever happening—but it does.  “Just once.”  “Just try it.”  “Everybody else does it.”  “It won’t happen to me.”  As a Christian it is better to be innocent in what is evil.  (Rom.16:19)  There is no profit in dabbling in alcohol, nicotine, and drugs.  A problem now is overuse of pain medications.  When necessary it is important to use them but caution must be taken.

Today bodily exercise is a big thrust.  It is true that it is important to our health.  Every year research is finding results in different ways in which exercise will benefit us.  To develop good habits of exercise takes a great deal of self-control.  We set our minds in determination and do it.  However, it is important to remember the exhortation of Paul in 1 Tim.4:8.  For bodily exercise profits a little but godliness is profitable for all things.

Obesity causes many health problems today.  This partners with the lack of exercise but it is associated with what we eat—both in kind and amount.  Great self-control is necessary to get our diets in control.  Again we give ourselves these little messages:  “Tomorrow I’ll start;” “I love this;” “Just a little.”  Just a little starts a desire for more.  This is a proven fact.  Gain self-control to take care of the body God has given you.

We now want to think about material things.  It is important that we have self-control over money matters.  It is very easy to think of the items on sale that “we could use” and not what we need.  If we are not careful, we have surpassed the money that belongs to the Lord and foolishly purchased items that will become of little value in a short time.  God comes first.  Do we trust that He will provide our needs?  (Mal.3:8-10) 

Without self-control we become obsessed with many things—clothes, shoes, DVD’s, books, tools, gadgets, and—STUFF.  Just ask someone who has had to store their goods to be safe during a flood.  Many decide that there are items that have not been used and they don’t move them back.  We can do without so many of the things we store away because “someday we might need them”.  That is why the storage units have grown so much in number.  Job lost everything and what was his answer.  (Mal.1:21,22)  We cannot take anything material with us.  God owns it all and allows us to use it.  We need self-control over the material things of life.

Now let us think of self-control over spiritual matters.  What could be more important.  If we do not have control over our time, spiritual matters may receive little of it.  Count the number of hours (or minutes) spent with God verses the time spent in entertainment.  Seriously, we might be surprised how this shows what we put first. 

The time spent in Bible study, meditation, and application to our life may explain our spiritual growth or lack thereof .  Before we became Christians, we walked in darkness but now God made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  (2 Cor.4:6)  This light of knowledge comes from His Word which we are to study to show yourselves approved unto God. (2 Tim.2:15)  The Word is powerful for it is the power of God for salvation.  (Rom.1:16)  The Word pointed us to salvation but it also reveals how to please our Lord for the remainder of our life.  It shows all to us.  (Heb.4:12)   We can’t read a few verses and believe we have studied.  It takes self-control to allot time in every day for Bible study.

The attitude of prayer needs to be in our heart at all times.  (1 Thess.5:17)  Time needs to be set aside each day for prayer with thanksgiving.  How often Jesus set aside time for prayer with His Father!  It wasn’t a prayer for a few minutes but all night.  We may not spend all night in prayer but God answers prayer.  Perhaps a list would help.  We repent through prayer.  We ask for guidance through prayer.  We pray for spiritual and physical needs of others through prayer.  This not only includes individuals but also congregations and foreign works.  There is so much for which to pray.  We can pray anytime, anywhere, and for anything but we must realize that it is within God’s will.  Our obedience also makes a difference.

When saints are gathered together for worship, all Christians should be there if possible.  Sometimes it takes self-control to choose worship over an event we wish to attend.  Again, what comes first?  In attending we stimulate one another to love and good deeds.  We also encourage one another.  (Heb.10:24,25)  Our commitment to the Lord shows as we are present with the saints.  A lady of 88 years of age walked over 3 blocks with her cane so she wouldn’t miss prayer meeting and Bible study.  Most of the distance was uphill.  Is Jesus pleased with our commitment in this way?

It takes self-control to curb our speech and anger.  (Jam.1:19; Eph.4:26)  Some find it a way to show off if they can tell the business of someone else.  They become busybodies.  It can turn into gossip and even slander.  Could we tell Jesus what we repeat to others and would He be pleased?  We are held accountable for every word spoken.  (Matt.12:36)

We must use self-control concerning our thoughts for thoughts turn into words and action.  (Prov.23:7)  We can destroy a profitable life by dwelling on negative thoughts.  “But I can’t help it!”  With prayer and self-control we can help it.  Our thoughts need to be on the true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and whatever is of good report and excellent as well as those things that are worthy of praise.  Dwell on these things. 

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