While we have no control over the actions, thoughts, or words of others, we do have the ability to control ourselves. This ability, however, seems to be rare. Self-control is literally the idea to control oneself. To possess self-control is to reign in one’s “emotions, impulses, or desires” (BDAG). Bringing all of these thoughts and actions under control is a challenge, but it is a necessity for the Christian. Peter writes that it is because of the knowledge God has given to us alongside His promise of eternal life that we as Christians must give “all diligence, [to] add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, [and] to knowledge self-control” (2 Pet. 1:5-6, NKJV).
When we come to understand the surety of our convictions, the morals we are to live by, and grow in our knowledge of what is and is not right, working on our self-control is the next step to making our “call and election sure” (2 Pet. 1:10). To exhibit self-control is a way in which we put our faith, virtue, and knowledge into action. We trust that God’s word is right, we desire to live with all moral excellence, we know what is or is not right, so it only makes sense that we would then do what is right or restrain ourselves from doing that which is not right.
Understanding self-control is one thing, but exhibiting self-control is something completely different. It is easy to know on a practical level what self-control is, but it is far more difficult to live with self-control. Despite this challenge, God expects us as Christians to live with self-control. God expects us to recognize those things that entice us and keep from giving in to the temptation. God expects us to see when we begin to grow angry and bring our emotions in check. God expects us to not only grow to know the difference between right and wrong, but He expects us to show some self-control to keep from doing what is wrong. Understanding that this is an expectation could potentially cause one to feel that this is a burden. Seeing the need to exhibit self-control as a burden is the wrong attitude. Knowing that God has this expectation for us ought to rather encourage us. It ought to help us see that self-control is possible (cf. 1 Jn. 5:3).
Self-control takes work. This is why as Peter begins listing out these necessities for the Christian in 2 Peter 1:5, he says to give “all diligence.” The more effort we put forth to growing in our faith, virtue, and knowledge, the more we will see the need for self-control. With self-control, we will keep from acting contrary to what God has given and promised to us (2 Pet. 1:3-4). With self-control, we will be able to better prepare ourselves to continue growing and to add “to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2 Pet. 1:6-7).
By Preston McElyea