節制/自制的武器
過去幾週我們談到「強大的屬神武器」，又稱為「聖靈的果子」，在這週的每週一話中，我們將談論列在加拉太書五章的最後一個果子：節制/自制。
為什麼將「節制/自制」命名為聖靈的果子？那不是我們自己應做的事嗎？我們必須謹記在心，聖靈是「幫助者」，而不是「執行者」。祂被差來幫助我們，而不是去做我們有責任做的事。然而，聖靈確實幫助我們發展這些特質，所以在我們生命中，它們是祂的果子。
箴言廿五章28節寫著：「人不制伏自己的心，好像毀壞的城邑沒有牆垣。」在聖經時代，一個沒有城牆的城市如同敞開的大門，任由敵人和盜賊掠奪。因此，沒有自制的人也是如此─他們敞開大門任由敵人掠奪和竊取。
關係是我們這一生所能擁有最珍貴的寶藏。有多少人是因缺乏自制而毀掉關係？這所引起的事情像是暴怒，說出無法收回的事情，或做出一些對關係造成無法挽回的傷害，切斷那些本會成為我們生命中的偉大寶藏。缺乏自制是如何使我們無法高升或被放在我們應有的位置？直到審判那日，我們才知道缺乏自制對我們造成多大的損失，但這若是我們的問題，那麼毫無疑問，代價是巨大的。
使徒保羅在提多書一章寫到成為長老的資格；在教會的領導階層，「暴躁」是其中一個不合格的特質。來自領導階層之人的狂怒會造成巨大損失，這是多數優良機構不會容許他們的領袖或管理者所擁有的特質。那些容易失控的人，他們的心靈當然不夠成熟或安穩，足以成為代表萬王之王的領袖。
在保羅給提多關於長老資格的信中，他也列出好鬥（打人）是不合格的特質。這樣的人容易起爭執，顯示出的不成熟是一位長老不應有的特質。成熟穩重的人可以和不同觀點的人辯論，他們對事不對人，不會因為對方不認同而被冒犯或不耐煩。那些與人辯論就會起爭執的人，沒有彰顯出代表基督的成熟度，而這是祂的領袖必須具備的一個特質。
加拉太書五章19-21節有更嚴重的理由，為何基督徒不應容忍缺乏自制的人，無論他們是不是領袖：
情慾的事都是顯而易見的，就如姦淫、污穢、邪蕩、
拜偶像、邪術、仇恨、爭競、忌恨、惱怒、結黨、紛爭、異端、
嫉妒（有古卷在此有：兇殺二字）、醉酒、荒宴等類。我從前告訴你們，現在又告訴你們，行這樣事的人必不能承受神的國。
在這裡我們看見仇恨、爭競、忌恨、惱怒、結黨和紛爭是與姦淫、邪術和醉酒等事並列一起。接下來的經文告訴我們，行這樣事的人不能承受神的國，還有什麼比不能進神的國更嚴重的事嗎？
然而，上述經文並不說做過這些事的人不能承受神的國，而是「一直在行」這些事的人。我們與肉體的爭戰既迫切又困難，因為我們仍在與肉體奮戰，不代表我們不具資格進入神的國。讓我們不具資格的是當這些事成為我們的習慣，這意味著我們已經降服於老我，不再奮戰了，這不是真正跟隨主的人會做的事。我們絕不停止奮戰，我們必須掌管我們生命中所容許去做的事。
(摘自喬納word for the week, Week 17, 2021)
The Weapon of Self-Control
We continue covering the fruit of the Spirit, which are also “divinely powerful weapons.” In this Word for the Week, we will cover the last one listed in Galatians 5: “self-control.”
Why would “self-control” be named as a fruit of the Spirit? Isn’t that something we do? We must keep in mind that the Spirit is “the Helper,” not “the Doer.” He has been sent to help us, but not to do what we are responsible for doing. However, He does help us to develop these qualities so they are His fruit in our life.
It is written in Proverbs 25:28: “Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit.” In biblical times a city that did not have walls was wide open to being plundered by enemies and thieves. So are those who do not have self-control—they are wide open to being plundered and stolen from by the enemy.
Relationships are the most valuable treasures we have in this life. How many have been ruined by the lack of self-control? This causes things like outbursts of anger, saying things that cannot be taken back, or doing things that irreparably damage a relationship and sever us from those who would have been great treasures in our life. How has the lack of self-control kept us from promotions or positions we would have otherwise received? We will not know until the Judgment Day just how costly this one thing has been to us, but if this is a problem we have, there is no doubt the cost has been great.
The Apostle Paul writes about the qualifications for elders in Titus Chapter One, and “outbursts of anger” is one of the disqualifying characteristics for leadership in the church. Rage from those in leadership can do great damage, and this is something most quality organizations will not allow in their leaders or managers. Those who are prone to such a loss of control of their spirit are certainly not mature enough or secure enough to be leaders representing our King.
In Paul’s letter to Titus about the qualifications of elders he also lists being pugnacious as a disqualifying characteristic. This is to be prone to arguments, which is also revealing an immaturity that an elder cannot have. The mature and stable can debate with those who have differences without taking it personally and without getting impatient or offended with those who disagree. Those who cannot do this without it deteriorating into an argument are not demonstrating the maturity that one representing Christ as one of His leaders must have.
In Galatians 5:19-21 we have an even more serious reason why all Christians should not tolerate a lack of self-control in their life whether they are in leadership or not:
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, “idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
“envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Here we see that enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, and dissensions are listed with such things as immorality, sorcery, and drunkenness. We are also told that those who practice them will not inherit the kingdom of God. How much more serious could this be?
However, the above text does not say that those who have done these things will not inherit the kingdom, but those who “practice” them. Our battle with the carnal nature is a desperate and difficult one, and because we are still in this fight it does not mean that we are disqualified from the kingdom. What disqualifies us is when they become our practice, which means that we have surrendered to the old nature and no longer fight it, which no true follower of the Lord will do. We must never stop fighting, and we must take control of what we allow and do in our life.
