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)
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