Self-Control and the Death of Self

I received something of a profound word given to me this morning on my way to work.  Such was the profound nature of it, I had to share it with some close and loved ones that mean a lot to me.  In essence this is what was said,

God has no problem with your bid for self-control, it is your thirst for self-rule that is your greatest problem.  That is why death to self remains the hardest, most insistent and most liberating daily demand of discipleship.

I am still reeling from it even now.  I often struggle dying to self – which is a bit funny in a wya, but it’s true.  I know that I am at my best when I’ve given over everything to God and feel Him leading me in every decision. Yet it’s so easy to take things personally and seek to react to things in self-protective or self-satisfying ways.  the more I grow, the more I realise how prone I am to it and how much I am in desperate need of Christ.

In as much as overcoming sin in its various manidestations is noble, sometimes, subtly, even that desire to overcome is more about establishing self-rule than it is to glorify God in my body.  Take two of the most fundamental concepts in the Christian character – humility and meekness – I’ll come back to these later. The whole idea of the Christian journey is to be like Jesus – every other agenda must submit to that one.  Anything else contravenes creation’s intent for the purpose of humanity.  As Jesus’ mission was the expression of the Kingdom of God – the rule of God – whatever contradicts that is at odds with that same creation design and no greater opposition is seen of that than in that niggling problem of self-rule.

The Ultimate Example proclaimed that He does nothing other than what He sees His Father do, He was completely left to the will of the Father and thus acts of discipline were active restraints to maintain in line with what His Authority had authored.

True self-control then has more to do with submitting to God’s authority and following what He has authored than the variety of alternatives we are only too happy to pursue.  Bringing us nicely back to those concepts of humility and meekness.  Humility works in the light of knowing the greatness and pre-eminence of God.  Meekness follows closely behind in establishing that for all the energy and ability that works in us it is under the control of the true Author.  that means we get off the throne of our lives.  We refuse to live by the old way where we were kings.  True self-control takes place at the death of self and the enthroned rule of God.

Now how does that work in daily life? Let me give you a real life example with names changed to protect those who wish to remain anonymous.

Robert has been a follower of Christ for just over five years.  He’s worked for the Asco Retail Store for over seven years, so his colleagues at work know that something changed while he was with them and his character and interests are somewhat different even if his bubbly personality remains the same.  Of late Rob has found it difficult at work with a number of changes taking place and he perceives there is a lack of communication and consideration of what the employees at the ground level feel. As he goes in from day to day the frustration grows and he feels the anger and anxiety rising every time his line manager comes in and informs the staff of another change in operations.

On the one hand he wants to respect those in authority, and he does not want to speak out of turn or cause unnecessary upset, but the more he keeps things boiling inside of him the more frustrated he gets, the more despondent and disillusioned he becomes.  Inevitably he becomes lax in his commitment on the job.

Right here however comes the battle of the rule of self.  Rob’s desire to be respectful is honourable and refusing to lash out is admirable, but what does his lax attitude to work suggest about who is in charge in his situation?  The justifications that prop up to support his position, merely appear to satiate a desire to maintain his sense of control in the situation.  So in as much as by some accounts he’s doing well, in actuality, he’s still ‘giving room to the devil’ by living with a mediocre attitude to something that takes up a significant amount of his life and is indeed a key ground on which the rule of God should be evident in his character and conduct.

Rob’s issue though isn’t a blatant one.  Indeed, with the right nominal acts he could get away with doing enough to keep things ticking along nicely. The point is, however, is this really what displaying the majesty and splendour of the King looks like in the workplace? To actually show that in the light of all the conflicting feelings, Rob will really need to give up self-rule and allow God to rule through him, that means even in tough situations giving the best service he can with a desire to do so for the glory of the King.  I hope you can see, however, in Rob’s position, that will be a significant challenge.

Sometimes in offering testimonites of the awesome works of God we go for the more obvious stories of God’s brilliance – that time when we didn’t know where the next meal was coming from and then seeming out of nowhere someone offers us the money to buy it.  Great stories of God’s supernatural healing and provision.  These are vital stories to tell.  Yet equally as important as those breakthroughs should be the stories we tell of how God moulds our characters to negotiate work scenarios.  How God shapes our character with the people who we’re called to be in relationship with and all their ‘issues’.  It is just as much a miracle that we can love those who despitefully use us as it is to be the recipient of supernatural provision.

It is a point of ever growing joy and humble delight to know that God works in us to show Himself through us. Scenarios in life offer the opportunity for us to display great self-control when we abdicate from self rule.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd