For the Work of Ministry, 3
As I have studied passages related to the work of ministry, one trait which especially struck me as an essential quality for both men and women is "self-control."
Why is self-control critical? Without it, we are vulnerable in many situations. Proverbs 25:28 points out that: "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." First Corinthians 7 refers to self-control in relationships.
Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." This fruit includes love and self-control as the beginning and end of its 9-part bunch. Here it is clear that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, not something we can create or maintain on our own.
First Timothy 2:9 mentions "that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control." Modesty, yes, but who of us would have seen self-control as an adornment?
In his letter to Titus, Paul specifies that the character of an overseer must include being self-controlled (1:9), and later he underlines the importance of that for older men (2:2) and younger men (2:6). Self-control is also among the habits which older women are to teach the younger women (2:5).
Peter reminds us in his first letter: "The end of all things is at hand: therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers" (1 Peter 4:7), and in his second letter exhorts us to supplement our faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with steadfastness, steadfastness with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, brotherly affection with love (2 Peter 1:5-7).
But that which ought most to motivate us to self-control is this: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own posession who are zealous for good works" (Titus 2:12-14).
As I have studied passages related to the work of ministry, one trait which especially struck me as an essential quality for both men and women is "self-control."
Why is self-control critical? Without it, we are vulnerable in many situations. Proverbs 25:28 points out that: "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." First Corinthians 7 refers to self-control in relationships.
Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." This fruit includes love and self-control as the beginning and end of its 9-part bunch. Here it is clear that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, not something we can create or maintain on our own.
First Timothy 2:9 mentions "that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control." Modesty, yes, but who of us would have seen self-control as an adornment?
In his letter to Titus, Paul specifies that the character of an overseer must include being self-controlled (1:9), and later he underlines the importance of that for older men (2:2) and younger men (2:6). Self-control is also among the habits which older women are to teach the younger women (2:5).
Peter reminds us in his first letter: "The end of all things is at hand: therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers" (1 Peter 4:7), and in his second letter exhorts us to supplement our faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with steadfastness, steadfastness with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, brotherly affection with love (2 Peter 1:5-7).
But that which ought most to motivate us to self-control is this: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own posession who are zealous for good works" (Titus 2:12-14).
posted by Ebeth | 7:50 PM
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