The Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control

The ninth and final fruit of the Spirit is self-control — 'temperance,' in older English. It's the ability to master our impulses, appetites, and desires rather than being ruled by them. Here's a closer look at self-control as the fruit of the Spirit.

Ruling our own spirit

Self-control means governing ourselves — our temper, our tongue, our appetites, our reactions — rather than being controlled by them. The Bible warns of the danger of lacking it: 'He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls' — defenceless and exposed.

Freedom, not restriction

Far from being joyless restriction, self-control is a kind of freedom — freedom from being enslaved to our impulses and appetites. The person without it is at the mercy of every craving and mood; the self-controlled person is free to choose what's good and wise.

A daily discipline

Self-control is exercised in countless daily choices — resisting a temptation, holding our tongue, saying no to an appetite, choosing discipline over ease. It's built like a muscle, through repeated small acts of saying no to what's harmful and yes to what's good.

Empowered by the Spirit

Willpower alone eventually fails, which is why self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, not just a personal achievement. God's Spirit empowers us to master ourselves in a way we couldn't alone. We cultivate it by depending on him in the moments of temptation.

Self-control, the fruit of the Spirit, is the mastery of our impulses and appetites — a freedom from being ruled by them rather than a joyless restriction. Built through daily discipline and empowered by the Spirit, it guards us like the walls of a city. In a culture of instant gratification, self-control is a vital and liberating mark of a Spirit-led life.