Pretty much every area of our life that is out of balance is from lack of self-control.  That can be in the area of food, money, desires, health, our words, actions, and more.  We know what we ought to do–spend wisely, eat healthy, exercise, control our thoughts and desires, etc… but we make excuses for ourselves.  Just one more piece of chocolate, too tired to exercise, spend a little here, etc…

As one has said, “we are the fruit of our habits, not our goals.”

Self-control is a core theme of maturity for the believer.

In reading some verses in Titus, Paul instructs Timothy to

“Teach the older to be…self-controlled” (Titus 2:2)

Then, have the older women teach the younger women,

“to be self-controlled” (Titus 2:4)

Then in vs. 6,

“Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled”

And then we get to Proverbs.  Proverbs is all about self-control in many areas of life.  Consider the proverb about enjoyable food and drink:

Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich (Proverbs 21:17)

Then there’s this one:

“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls” (Prov 25:28).

Without self-control, our lives are in ruins and can be even further destroyed.  Self-control creates safety and boundaries.  Self-control is rules for ourselves that bring peace.

All this to be said, areas of our lives that are out of control have consequences.  Yet, why is it that persist in them when we know that life is on the other side of self-control?

So much of it comes down to emotional energy, stress, wanting to find pleasure instead of putting up a fight.  And yet, the Scripture say that without self-control, we are living foolishly.