Comments You Will Not Hear at the 11-23-03 WT Study Review comments will be in black and parentheses ()
WT quotes will be in
red and quotes ""Quotes from other sources will be in
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SUPPLY TO YOUR KNOWLEDGESELF- CONTROL
"Supply... to your knowledge self-control". -2 PETER 1:5-8.Yes, for this very reason, by YOUR contributing in response all earnest effort, supply to YOUR faith virtue, to [YOUR] virtue knowledge, 6 to [YOUR] knowledge self-control, to [YOUR] self-control endurance, to [YOUR] endurance godly devotion, 7 to [YOUR] godly devotion brotherly affection, to [YOUR] brotherly affection love. 8 For if these things exist in YOU and overflow, they will prevent YOU from being either inactive or unfruitful regarding the accurate knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ .--2 Peter 1:5-8
So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. 6 Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. 7 Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ . 2 Peter 1:5-8 (NLT) Opening Comments
This article has a patronizing tone that infiltrates all the "good" counsel on self-control. Once again we see doublespeak being used.
But we certainly should be compassionate and understanding when dealing with those who have more difficulty in exercising it, even if their lack of self-control causes us some personal discomfort. In view of our own imperfection, who among us has any reason to show a self-righteous attitude?But sometimes it so difficult because some JWs don?t have problems with self-control, yeah right!
At times, we may find it difficult to be understanding toward fellow Christians who are struggling to show self-control in an area that gives us no trouble
. But people differ by nature. Some are easily ruled by emotions; others are not.Is self-control easy? What area would that be that one Christian has under control and another doesn?t? Is it possible to be sinless and imperfect in one area and not in another?
w63 6/1 323 Self-Control Is Proof of Wisdom
To exercise self-control, however, is not easy?.Self-control is not easy, but it is worth the effort, for it is proof of wisdom, and who does not want to be wise?
1 John 1:8-10
If we make the statement: "We have no sin," we are misleading ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we make the statement: "We have not sinned," we are making him a liar, and his word is not in us.
James 3:8
But the tongue, not one of mankind can get it tamed. An unruly injurious thing, it is full of death-dealing poison.
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D
URING a major campaign against drug abuse, young people in the United States were admonished: "Just say no." How much better things would be if everyone would just say no not only to drug abuse but also to overdrinking, to unwise or immoral life-styles, to dishonest business practices, and to "the desires of the flesh"! (Romans 13:14) Yet who will claim that saying no is always easy?Is that all James said was necessary, to say no?!
James
4:17Therefore, if one knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him.
Since all imperfect humans have difficulty exercising self-control,
Except for
those who have more difficulty
in exercising itwe should be interested in learning how to win any personal battle that we face. The Bible tells us about people in the past who strove to serve God but who sometimes had difficulty just saying no.
Is that what was David?s problem not saying no? It is what he did that caused the death of 2 innocent people.
Remember David and his sin of adultery with Bath-sheba. It led to the death of their child conceived in adultery and of Bath-sheba's husband, both of whom were innocent. (2 Samuel 11:1-27; 12:15-18)
Sidepoint:
Why weren?t David and Bathsheba put to death? Wasn?t that the penalty for murder and adultery death? Where in the Law is there a clause with an exception to that? "It led to the death?of Bathsheba?s husband" dilutes the fact that David had Uriah but in the battle front so he would die?murder.2
Samuel 11:14-15And it came about in the morning that David proceeded to write a letter to Jo´ab and send it by the hand of U·ri´ah. 15 So he wrote in the letter, saying: "PUT U·ri´ah in front of the heaviest battle charges, and YOU men must retreat from behind him, and he must be struck down and die."
How was "David" punished?
Insight Book Volume 1
p. 590 DavidThe adulterine child born to Bath-sheba soon died, even though David fasted and mourned over the sick child for seven days. (2Sa 12:15-23) Then David?s firstborn son Amnon raped his own half sister Tamar, and he was subsequently murdered by her brother, to the grief of his father. (2Sa 13:1-33) Later, Absalom, the third and beloved son of David, not only attempted to usurp the throne but openly despised and publicly disgraced his father by having relations with (raping) David?s concubines. (2Sa 15:1?16:22)
Or think of the apostle Paul, who openly confessed: "For the good that I wish I do not do, but the bad that I do not wish is what I practice." (Romans 7:19) Do you at times feel similar frustration?
Some evidently don?t
those who have more difficulty
in exercising ittoward fellow Christians who are struggling to show self-control in an area that gives us no trouble
.But people differ by nature. Some are easily ruled by emotions; others are not.
Evidently, they do not have "another law warring against the law of (their) mind."
Paul continued: "I really delight in the law of God according to the man I am within, but I behold in my members another law warring against the law of my mind and leading me captive to sin's law that is in my members. Miserable man that I am! Who will rescue me from the body undergoing this death?" (Romans 7:22-24) Biblical examples should strengthen our determination never to give up in our struggle to gain greater self-control.
Self-Control, A Lesson to Be Learned
Self-control, which includes the ability to say no, is mentioned at 2 Peter 1:5-7 along with faith, virtue, knowledge, endurance, godly devotion, brotherly affection, and love. None of these other desirable qualities are wholly inborn. They must be cultivated. To manifest them in significant measure requires determination and effort. So should we expect self-control to be any easier?Evidently, for some it is.toward fellow Christians who are struggling to show self-control in an area that gives us no trouble.True, millions of people may feel that they have no problem with self-control.
Would those be JWs?They go about life doing as they please, knowingly or unknowingly conducting themselves in accord with the dictates of their imperfect flesh and giving little consideration to the consequences - to themselves or to others. (Jude 10)Like pedophiles in the congregation ( www.silentlambs.org )
The lack of ability and willingness to say no is more evident now than ever before. It is an indication that we are indeed living in "the last days" of which Paul spoke when he foretold: "Critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, ? without self-control."-2 Timothy 3:1-3.The WTS left out the most important part?"having no natural affection." Isnt? that a description of child molesting?
Jehovah's Witnesses are well aware of the challenge posed by the need for self-control. Like Paul, they are conscious of the struggle between a desire to pleaseBack in 1916, an early issue (which one) of the magazine you are now reading spoke of "the proper course for us to take in getting control of ourselves, our thoughts, our words and our conduct." Why didn?t the WTS tell us which magazine, date and page? This is the closest I could find on the internet.
http://www.divineplan.org/2001_oct.htm
It suggested keeping Philippians 4:8 in mind. The divine advice in that text is still valid, although originally offered some 2,000 years ago and probably more difficult to follow now than it was then or in 1916. Nevertheless, Christians strive hard to say no to worldly desires, aware that by so doing, they are saying yes to their Creator.Self-control is mentioned at Galatians 5:22, 23 as part of "the fruitage of the [holy] spirit." If we manifest this quality along with "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, [and] mildness," we will be benefited greatly (who talks like this any more). Doing so will prevent us, as Peter explained, from becoming "either inactive or unfruitful" (works = salvation) in our service to God. (2 Peter 1:8) But we should not despair or condemn ourselves if we fail to display these qualifies as rapidly and as fully asSelf-Control in Marriage
Being married does not in itself eliminate the need for self-control as it relates to sex. For example, the sexual needs of husband and wife may differ greatly. Or the physical condition of one mate may at times make normal sexual relations difficult or even impossible.
What are abnormal sexual relations according to the WTS?
http://quotes.jehovahswitnesses.com/oral.htm
Perhaps because of prior experiences, one mate may find it challenging to obey the injunction: "Let the husband render to his wife her due; but let the wife also do likewise to her husband."Like being molested/raped as a child or raped as an adult? Or being a habitual masturbator?
In such a situation, the other mate may need to exercise added self-control. But both can bear in mind Paul's loving advice to married Christians: "Do not be depriving each other of it, except by mutual consent for an appointed time, that you may devote time to prayer and may come together again, that Satan may not keep tempting you for your lack of self-regulation."-1 Corinthians 7:3, 5.Except,
w86 8/15 p. 16 Guard Against Misusing PowerWives, in general, love more deeply than their husbands do?love is more important to them?and many husbands take selfish advantage of that. On the other hand, wives have been known to show reluctance to pay the marriage due when their wishes are crossed. In fact, some wives have even refused the marriage due altogether. Sad to say, at times this has contributed to a husband?s committing adultery. All such failure to heed Paul?s counsel at 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 is likewise a selfish misuse of power.How grateful married couples can be if both have learned to exercise proper self-control in this most intimate relationship. At the same time, they do well to show understanding to fellow worshipers who are still struggling to manifest it in that area.How would they know what is going on in someone else's "most intimate relationship?"
w83 3/15 p. 31 Honor Godly Marriage!
As already stated, it is not for elders to "police" the private marital matters of couples in the congregation. However, if it becomes known that a member of the congregation is practicing or openly advocating perverted sex relations within the marriage bond, that one certainly would not be irreprehensible, and so would not be acceptable for special privileges, such as serving as an elder, a ministerial servant or a pioneer. Such practice and advocacy could even lead to expulsion from the congregation.We should never forget to pray that Jehovah give our spiritual brothers insight, courage, and determination to continue their fight to manifest self-control and to take steps to overcome improper desires (as defined by the WTS) .-Philippians 4:6, 7.Continue Helping
At times, we may find it difficult to be understanding toward fellow Christians who are struggling to show self-control in an area that gives us no trouble. But people differ by nature. Some are easily ruled by emotions; others are not. Some find it comparatively easy to control themselves, self-control posing no great problem.
And who would that be, elders, COs, DOs, Bethelites, GB, anointed, those "spiritually strong"?Others have more difficulty. Yet, remember, a struggling person is not a bad person. Fellow Christians need our understanding and compassion. Our own happiness is involved as we continue to show mercy toward those still struggling to increase their display of self-control. We can see that from Jesus' words recorded at Matthew 5:7.Never do we want to misjudge a fellow Christian who may on some occasion fail to manifest the Christian personality. How encouraging to know that in addition to seeing the one time that we may have failed, Jehovah sees the many times when we did not, even if all of these went unnoticed by fellow Christians. It is most comforting to keep in mind the words of Psalm 130:3: "If errors were what you watch, 0 Jah, 0 Jehovah, who could stand?"Yes don?t misjudge them, be sure to judge them properly! Why should they be judging them at all.?To be pleasing toMany Christians may be in accord with what we have considered up to this point about self-control, but
All I can say is there must have been a lot of interferences and at the wrong time (maybe Satan did it). I think he was having marital difficulties and this was a convenient excuse. I watched a movie at an elder?s home. I realized when I arrived that the chosen movie was rated R. The elder?s response, "we fast forward through the bad spots." That implies he had watched it and knew already where/what the bad spots were. Yet this poor guy gets a new job?too bad he couldn?t fast forward.
Concluding CommentsAt times, we may find it difficult to be understanding toward fellow Christians who are struggling to show self-control in an area that gives us no trouble. But people differ by nature. Some are easily ruled by emotions; others are not.Evidently there are some JWs that haven't gotten the picture yet of how to have self-control in some areas but not others. Whoever you are out there you are irritating the ones of us who are self-controlled.
Anyone who thinks they have a handle on any area of life in regards to self-control, has let go of the handle. Ask any recovering alcoholic that knows that she or he is only one drink away from a drunk even after 20 years of sobriety.
The only self we can try to control is ourselves, not others.
Blondie