Proverbs 16:32 “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he who rules is spirit than he who takes a city.”

Proverbs 16:32 (NKJV)

Media can be addicting; computers, I-pads, notebooks or cell phones. The doors they open can also be addicting: texting, internet, email, Facebook or twitter. I read a story not too long ago about a young lady who was texting while she was driving, and she crashed her car. You would have thought that would have taught her a lesson but apparently not—because she was in an accident again. This time it cost her life, she was texting while driving again. She apparently could not bring herself to use the self-control necessary to shut off her phone and pay attention to her driving.

There are many areas of life in which we need to exert self control that doesn’t deal with media. What about eating? What about eating? One’s consumption of food may consist of eating too much or of eating the wrong kinds of foods. Maybe lack of self-control is shown by drug use or alcohol use. Maybe it could be our tempers.

How many times have I run into people who could not keep a lid on their tempers? The damage they leave behind them is tragic to see. They leave behind damage wives, children, parents, siblings or friends who have been bitterly and viciously attacked—verbally and physically. As I have counseled over the years. I have talked to thoroughly damaged wives or husbands who at one time stood at an altar and declared before those assembled witnesses that they would love, honor and cherish their spouse – and yet they have been virtually destroyed by that spouse.

James 3:6 talks of the undisciplined tongue this way” “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person sets the whole course of his life on fire and is itself set on fire by Hell. “ Children may be the most damaged by the uncontrolled mouth used upon them because they are still forming their self-image and will probably at some level silently accept as true the words spewed out at them.

How well do you control yourself? You may think it is impossible, but let me encourage you with this, “with God nothing is impossible.” Come see us this Sunday.

Pastor Dave Gordon
CJ Community Bible Church