Self-Discipline

This past week in our morning Bible Study, we have been considering the topic of "Self-discipline". For instance, one day we were studying Paul's words to Timothy in 2 Tim 1:7: "God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (Some translations have "self-control".) Out of our reflections and discussions, several things came to the fore.

First of all, self-discipline is a wonderful thing for other people to have. If THEY would just have more self-discipline, my life would be much easier. If other people would just control their tempers, if they would just control their desires, then the (my) world would be much more serene and peaceful.

Secondly, self-discipline is not a problem for me to have for a limited time. I can control my appetites or discipline my desires for a specified time period. For example, I can go on a diet for a month, or I can exercise for a couple of months with no problem. But to think about changing my lifestyle in such a way that I actually develop different habits and patterns of living for the rest of my life -- well, that is a different kettle of fish!

Another point that we came to is that self-discipline is much easier when it is something that I choose for myself, rather than something that is imposed upon me from outside. In other words, if I choose to limit my shopping habits and curtail my expenses because I want to be thrifty or saving and spend the money on charitable causes, that is much more palatable than having to curtail my shopping and my lifestyle because I have lost my job and have no source of income. In that latter case, I have no choice in the matter.

In the end, we decided that self-discipline is a fruit of the Spirit. As Paul says in Galatians: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience....and self-control" (5:22). As such, I do not attain it by simply gritting my teeth, stiffening my spine and plunging ahead. Rather, I need to learn to relax, surrender to the Spirit, and let God accomplish the work within me.

Fruits are not something that grow on a tree over night. They take time, patience and much cultivation. God will bring about the fruit of the Spirit called self-discipline/self-control in us as we accept the reality that we cannot do it ourselves, but we need to let God accomplish it in us. It is not my project, but the work of God in me. What a relief it is to know that! What a freedom to know that this is not one more thing that I HAVE TO DO!