Secrets of the Abundant Life – Self-Control

Hebrews 12: 7 – 11 (NIV): Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Every good parent disciplines his children, but the goal is for the child to learn self-discipline. It does no good if the child has no self-control when he leaves his parents' presence. You and I know that a person with no restraint is heading for disaster. If we are going to live the abundant life, we are going to have self-control.
A good definition of self-discipline is the ability to delay gratification. That is counter to our culture which says “I want it and I want it now,” but it is key to living the abundant life. If we cannot say no to temptations that harm us, we will not be able to enjoy the life that God wants us to live. This may seem backward, but perhaps that's why it is a secret that few discover.
Notice in our scripture today the writer says that discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Righteousness and peace is the goal. That is living the abundant life. But he is so right when he says we must be trained by discipline. Training involves hard work. It is a daily commitment. It is a reward for those who seek it and do not give up when it gets tough or inconvenient or becomes a sacrifice.
If we are going to live the abundant life, we will live by the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5: 22 – 23, and it is self-control that binds all of them together and gives us the power to live them. We need God's help to have these traits and we need his power to live them, but he offers that power freely to anyone who asks for it. God wants you to walk with him. He wants you to understand who you are. He wants you to treat others as you would be treated. He wants you to live in righteousness, peace and holiness. He wants you to live an abundant life for all eternity. He will give you the power for this, but you must want it. You must ask. Now you know the secret.