Self-Discipline

Paul emphasised the importance of self-discipline in his letter to the Corinthians:

            Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such as way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24 – 27

He understood that, as followers of Christ, our spiritual lives form the core of our character. As we spend time in the disciplines of the Holy Spirit, Paul says we are to be like runners. During the course of a race, runners don’t stagger from one lane to another; they rivet their attention on the finish line and run a disciplined race towards it. At the start of a marathon, all the runners are crowded together, but over the course of the race they spread out. Let’s not deceive ourselves; the race of life is not to be compared with a sprint but with a marathon. In a marathon, it’s not how you start but how you finish that matters most.

Likewise, boxers train with purpose so they can absorb powerful blows without falling down. They build up their physical stamina so their legs will hold out for the final rounds. How tragic to be ahead on the judges’ scorecards but run out of energy in the end and collapse in defeat. Yet this is how we often are. We have 200 metres of training for a 400 metre race. We have 5 good rounds in us, but the fight is scheduled for 12 rounds. We start well only to end badly. Lack of adequate training may not show up at first, but enthusiasm and passion often eventually give way to fatigue.

Paul trained for his daily spiritual journey like a world class athlete. Why? Because he wanted to have the self-control to finish the race without being disqualified. We need to cultivate this same kind of spiritual fitness and the same kind of personal self-discipline. Disciplined habits will give you the momentum you need to not only move forward, but also to run your earthly race with strength and purpose.

Self-control is part of the fruit of the Spirit and people who demonstrate self-control are productive, dependable and influential.

The apostle Paul demonstrated these qualities and he wanted his co-worker, Timothy, to demonstrate them as well. He advised his young associate:

            For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.

            2 Timothy 1:7 (ASV)              

Discipline can also be translated as sound mind:

            For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)            

It seems Timothy had a natural inclination to timidity, so Paul was encouraging him to maintain boldness and assurance in his position of spiritual leadership. Paul had commissioned Timothy to oversee many of the churches in the Roman province of Asia and this task required ‘a spirit of power, of love and discipline’. Self-discipline is needed to stretch us beyond our own comfort zones and areas of personal inertia. For some, the needed discipline will be more in the realm of the emotions; for others, the focus of self-control will be in the realm of the mind or of the will.

Writing to the Galatians, Paul said:

            But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)      

Like Paul, we live in an undisciplined time. People seek freedom through excess but they find only bondage. They seek pleasure through passion but find pain instead. Self-control, as part of the fruit of the Spirit, allows us to experience freedom and pleasure as we grow in our faith and walk in obedience. The fullest expression of self-control comes through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Self-discipline is about bringing our whole life under the Holy Spirit’s control.

In Colossians 2:23, Paul points out the futility of self-imposed religion, of false humility and neglect of the body. He says they are of no value in subduing the flesh.

            These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Colossians 2:23 (NKJV)          

Christian legalism doesn’t work because it simply emphasises what we do or what we fail to do instead of emphasising the transforming power of the Holy Spirit within us. Paul goes on to say we should put off the old man with his deeds (Colossians 3:9) and put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge (Colossians 3:10). He further instructs us to:

            Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16 (NKJV)          

A Spirit led, disciplined lifestyle then is one in which we keep our focus on Christ and we let His word dwell in us richly, allowing our hearts to be overflowing with grace.