MEDITATIONS FROM PROVERBS

 

March 21, 2007

Reading: Proverbs 25:21-28

"Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” Proverbs 25:28

This statement is very descriptive of the person who has little to no self-control of his or her spirit. Is it referring to those who do not know Christ as their Savior or can it possible be speaking of those who are saved? My soul, there are times when some of the unsaved appear to have more self-control than God’s people. Consider these words as applying to those who profess to love God.

As a Christian you are faced every day with choices that have to be made: some with little effect and some that may have colossal ramifications. In the case of your spiritual life you may be faced with the same choice every day. As a Christian God gives you the freedom to choose between right and wrong. As a Child of God the major choice you face is one of ‘yielding’. Do you yield to the temptations of the ‘world, the flesh and the devil’, or do you yield to the Spirit of God which is in you?

One thing you know,

 

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” 1 Corinthians 10:13.

 

 Is this good news, or what? Well, it is good news but by itself is worthless! All of the promises of God are worthless unless you place yourself in the position of receiving their benefit. The promises and benefits of living at home were incidental to the prodigal son until he returned home and again lived under the panoply of his father’s blessing and influence.

All the time you seek to battle the temptations and sin in your life with your own strength and ability you will never experience continual victory. That “way of escape” is the Holy Spirit and through Him Jesus Christ. Paul calls on God’s children to yield or present themselves to Him,

 

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” Romans 6:12-14.

 

 The apostle continues, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey…? (6:16). Our text speaks of you having “rule” over your own spirit and Paul says, “let not sin reign in your mortal body”. One is positive – you must “rule” - while the other is negative “do not let sin reign.” You very definitely have choices to make; they are as simple as “yes” or “no.” Do you yield to the temptation or not? Fortunately, if your decision is “no” you have the Spirit of God to lead you to the way of victory. By saying “yes” to the temptation you are really saying “no” to God. You are admitting that you do not believe God “will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able,” or that He “will also make the way of escape”.

Solomon tells us that one who cannot rule over his self-control is like a “city broken down, without walls.” In other words the enemy has easy access to you because your walls of defense are broken down. How are your walls? With God’s help you can maintain them in good working order, but without Him the enemy will cause them to fall.