Jeremiah 35, Addendum on Self-Control (3)

3)    Self-control and words (a corrupt tongue).

a)    Prov. 15:28: We’ve heard this before with respect to anger: think before speaking.  The word “studies” (NKJV) is a “meditation” word.  In other words, the thinking needs to be serious and deep.

b)    Prov. 18:13: Get the facts first; and then speak!  In my life the standard situation for this was dad, coming home from work, hearing kids argue, and out of frustration settling the argument, only to be informed by mom that he completely missed what happened.  That is foolish and shameful.

c)    Prov. 21:23: Guard your tongue.  The Psalmist prayed for this: Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of our lips (Ps. 141:3).

d)    Eph. 4:29: Commit to speak to others with encouraging words.

e)    Matt. 12:36-37: God will hold us accountable for every word we speak.

f)     Prov. 12:19: Let us renew our minds with this thought: The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is for a moment.

4)    Self-control and actions (spontaneous, hasty responses).

a)    Prov. 19:2: Remember: we don’t want to be controlled by any of these desires.  This passage reminds us that quick or spontaneous actions is a gateway to sin.  For example, our excitement to tackle an issue should not override the making of a wise plan of action.

b)    Prov. 3:5-6: Every action should involve God.  This reminds us of 1 Th. 5:17 (pray without ceasing).  Our relationship with God should be such that we reach out to Him as each situation arises throughout our days.

c)    Here are several illustrations.  In Josh. 9, Israel welcomed the Gibeonites without really checking them out.  Saul lost the kingdom because he failed to inquire of God (1 Chron. 10:13-14); David did inquire of the Lord regularly (1 Chron. 14:10,14), though when he first tried to bring the Ark to Jerusalem there was tragedy because he did not seek the Lord (1 Chron. 15:13).

5)    Self-control and hunger/thirst (gluttony, drunkenness.)

a)    Prov. 23:20-21:

i)      Don’t hang out with people given to drunkenness and gluttony.

ii)   Gluttony and poverty go hand-in-hand.

iii)            Gluttony and laziness go hand-in-hand.

b)    Prov. 25:16: Too much of a good thing (ice cream?) leads to problems (tummy ache).  I.e. a good thing becomes a bad thing without self-control.

c)    Deut. 21:18-21: Excesses are a sign of rebellion in one’s youth.

d)    John 6:26-27: We should make sacrifices for things of value.  But not for food and drink.  We should make sacrifices to get the food that really satisfies.

Jeremiah 35 illustrates this in the Rechabite family, who, in obedience to their father totally abstained from wine.