But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. — Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
As promised, this week we will look at Temperance and try to understand its nuances. The diagram above reflects the two branches of temperance; Gentleness and Sobriety. As we explore the two branches may we come to understand the blessed benefits of temperance!
Firstly: Gentleness has this sense:
1) moral goodness, integrity
2) benignity, kindness
Does it not soothe your spirit merely to read the words: ‘moral goodness, integrity, kindness’? How can it not. In a world where the opposite is more often our experience to think that just the words could soothe us says much. Yet, imagine if you will, if YOU were the embodiment of ‘moral goodness, integrity and kindness’? How would you affect the world around you?
For those of us raised in the 50’s, 60’s and 70's, we watched as images were promoted on the television that reflected what was believed to be examples of ‘moral goodness’ and ‘integrity’ and ‘kindness’. Who could forget Lassie and Timmy’s family? Who could forget the Walton’s and their intergenerational family dealing with the transitional mores as ‘moral goodness and integrity’ served as the guiding light to which they arrived during each conflict. As the years progressed the images we watched began lamenting ‘moral goodness and integrity’ had disappeared and was usually reckoned to ‘hard working’ ‘honest’ individuals as ‘good people’ who ‘work hard’ -- as if they were a species of human that was being migrated from the everyday prevalent norm to the endangered list. And now, today, they are referred to as ‘in the day’ or questioned as to ‘why they struggled so hard for their beliefs?’These same individuals are moved now from the endangered list to the ‘extinct’ list.
Yet, when we see examples of ‘moral goodness’ and ‘integrity’ we are heartened that such individuals still remain in this day and age as a reminder that we are not all lost. Their presence may be a faded light but we could follow it on our path back to ‘right’.
Where is gentleness today? Is there a place in our busy competitive lives for gentleness? Does it seem refreshing to you? This brings us to the second branch of Temperance: Sobriety
What is Sobriety? We have heard it often as it relates to those who have successfully engaged in a 12 step program. Sobriety is something protected moment to moment and with cherish. Some synonyms for sobriety are: abstaining, moderation, refraining, self-restraint, and soberness.
The one branch ‘gentleness’ seems to have no limit! In fact, the more one exhibits moral goodness, integrity and kindness the more endearing the person becomes. The other branch, sobriety, requires ‘self restraint, abstinence, and moderation’. Are these mutually exclusive? Are they interdependent? Remember, we are speaking of the ‘Fruitage of God’s Holy Spirit’ not some ‘self effort’. Remember, the preceding verses clearly show if left to our own devices, the flesh, we would do all things to our own detriment, which case has clearly been evinced in the world around us. Moral goodness, integrity, kindness, sobriety =Temperance, a FRUITAGE of HOLY SPIRIT. Looking now to the bottom of the graphic above we see Self Control is the embodiment of temperance.
Many in today’s world fully understand there is no ‘fleshly’ or ‘natural’ inclination towards self control. But are we lost?
Who has not heard the Serenity Prayer? “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.” The opening verses reflect a dependence on God and WISDOM in order to face or tackle the daily issues. Prayer!, the first step to counter our ‘natural’ inclination. The Fruitage of Holy Spirit will remind us we cannot go it alone, we must depend on God and the way we do that is by engaging God in our daily lives, moment by moment. Only God can grant you the Peace [serenity] that comes from identifying what your limitations are and to act accordingly…fix what you can, understand there are some things you cannot and of course reliance on God to assist you in identifying the difference between the two.
As we ponder this fruitage -- ‘temperance/self control’ which also includes two other fruitages, gentleness and kindness -- might we reflect upon our own level of moral goodness, our own integrity our own level of kindness.
Homework: When was the last time you were really struck with the level of someone else’s integrity, moral goodness and kindness? Did it cause you to reflect upon your own? It is good to pray for God to embue us with HIS HOLY SPIRIT and if we seek TEMPERANCE to pray through petition and supplication for our spirit to be refreshed with this important fruitage.
Next week we will look at the antithetical aspect of Temperance.
May God lift you and bring you the peace the surpasses all thought! --Phil 4:4-7
