Power Through Self-Discipline

Proverbs 1:7-10; Jeremiah 35:5-10; I Corinthians 9:24-27; I Thessalonians 5:22

GOLDEN TEXT: “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.”—I Corinthians 9:25

SELF-DISCIPLINE is essential to the attainment of success in many lines of endeavor, and especially so in the Christian life. It is the concentration of energy in one direction and the cutting off from life of those interests and habits which would utilize time and strength that should be used for the accomplishment of the main purpose to which one’s life has been devoted. Thus, one who wishes to attain laurels of glory in the athletic world must give up many of the comforts and pleasures which properly belong to others in order that his strength may be conserved for and used in that principal direction.

This is the thought presented in our Golden Text. A Christian, like an athlete, Must struggle for victory, hence he must conserve his energies and use them as directed by God through His Word. As Christians, we strive for mastery over the world the flesh and the devil. We are called upon to keep our bodies under, to overcome the world, and to resist the devil. We have a real fight on our hands and the crown of victory will be ours only if we give all of our attention to this one thing in hand, which is that of being a Christian, a follower of Jesus.

Self-discipline should be properly directed, and the guide book for Christians in this as well as in everything else pertaining to their spiritual interests, is the Bible. There we find the instruction of the Lord, which is the beginning and the end of essential Christian knowledge. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,” says the prophet, “but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) It would be very foolish indeed for one who is striving to be a Christian to despise the rules of conduct as laid down in the Word of God.

The Rechabites referred to in our lesson (Jer. 35:5-10) furnish a good example of the power of self-discipline although the rules governing them were not specially laid down by the Lord. Their self-denials included, in addition to refraining from drinking wine, the comforts of houses in which to live, and the advantages which accrue to those who till the soil. These restrictions were imposed upon them by Jehonadab or Jonadab who was the son of Rechab, from whom the tribe derived its name.—II Kings 10:15

The various restrictions laid down for the Rechabites were for the purpose of preventing them from losing their identity as a nomadic tribe. Should they give up their tent life and become tillers of the soil they would cease to be a separate people. That the disciplinary measures commanded by Jehonadab accomplished the intended purpose is borne out by the fact that today, near Mecca, in the mountainous country northeast of Medina there still exists a tribe of about sixty thousand who claim to be the descendants of Jehonadab, and who still practice self-discipline in the manner he outlined for their fathers.

While the experience of the Rechabites illustrate the power of self-discipline we are not to suppose that everything they refrained from doing is wrong in the sight of the Lord. A Christian, however, is not to set his affections on houses and lands, nor upon earthly advantages. He is to set his affections upon things above—the spiritual or heavenly things. (Col.3:1,2) And while he is still in the flesh, and subject to the limitations of earthly conditions, yet he is to think of food, clothing and shelter, merely as a means to an end.

For a Christian to set his affections upon the earthly comforts of life is sure to dwarf his interest in spiritual matters. On the other hand, to discipline himself by cutting off from his life unnecessary earthly interests enables a Christian to concentrate his energies on the all-important thing of making his calling and election sure to a place in the heavenly Kingdom of Christ.

The King James translation of I Thessalonians 5:22—“Abstain from all appearance of evil”—is not a good one. The real thought is, “Abstain from every form of evil.” (Emphatic Diaglott) It would be impossible for a Christian to abstain from every appearance of evil, because those who are watching him have such widely divergent views of what constitutes evil. To such as these it would appear as evil to denounce the God-dishonoring doctrine of eternal torture. Surely we should not abstain from doing this just because those who walk in darkness think it is wrong for us to do it.

The standard of what is evil and what is good is set forth in the Scriptures. We are to govern our lives according to that standard.

QUESTIONS:

What illustrations were used by the Apostle Paul to describe Christian discipline?

Who were the Rechabites, and why did they practice self-discipline?

Is it possible for a Christian to abstain from every appearance of evil?

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