2 Tim. 3:1-5, SELF-CONTROL vs. self-indulgence (2)

b)    Why is self-control so important?

i)      1 Cor. 6:19-20: Because God owns us.  Remember that self-control is instant obedience to the Holy Spirit.

ii)   Prov. 27:7: It is essential to “soul satisfaction.”  In our society “freedom” has led people to look for more and more activities that satisfy the fleshly desires.  But at the same time, their souls are empty.  “Empty” is “vanity” in the book of Ecclesiastes.  “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.”  More toys, more sex and more power do not satisfy the soul.

iii)            Prov. 25:28: It is essential for “spiritual protection.”  It’s not just that seeking after the world’s happiness leaves our souls empty; it also does harm to our soul.  It leaves the inner self open to the bombardment of Satan, the world and the flesh.

iv) Acts 24:25: Paul reasoned with Felix about “righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come.”  To me, it has always seemed interesting.  Righteousness and judgment are subjects Felix should know and care about.  But self-control takes on a greater importance being joined to these.  The Roman world at that time, as is true of our world and is where every society is eventually headed, was not about self-control (unless you were an athlete) but about self-indulgence.  That’s why Felix left Paul, an innocent man, in prison: he hoped to get money from him and he hoped to make the Jews happy, who were seldom happy with Rome (24:26-27).

c)    What time period is marked by a lack of self-control? (2 Tim. 3:1-5) The Bible refers to the “last days” is being marked by lack of self-control.  Note that these times are said to be “perilous.”  Yes, it is perilous to lack restraint. 

i)      Now, if you want illustrations of this, remember that the “last days” are like remember that the Bible says they are like the days of Noah, leading up to the flood (Matt. 24:37; Gen. 6:1-8); and they are like the days of Lot, leading up to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Luke 17:28-29). 

ii)   Further, we can speak of the times of the Judges when everyone did what was right in their own eyes.  And lastly, in Rom. 1:18-32 there is a progression (rather, “regression”) of mankind, having turned away from God and having made himself “god,” God gives them over to increasing depths of wickedness, culminating in 1:28-32 which is a description of the depravity that people can come to.  These are all forms of self-indulgence.

We shouldn’t be surprised that so many “wild and crazy” sins are dominating the landscape in our country.  Let’s quit being shocked and recognize: these are the last days.