For those of you who have been following my blog over the past few months, you already know my super-secret plan is to exhibit my faith in the workplace as an outpouring of the fruit of the Spirit.
“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
In this final article of the series, we will look at the concept of self control. First, we’ll consider what Paul means when he says the fruit of the Spirit includes self control. Second, we’ll consider whether self control is an issue in the workplace. And third, we’ll analyze the role of self control when integrating our faith in the workplace.
What Does “Self Control” Mean?
As I read this verse, I was wondering what Paul meant when said the fruit of the Spirit is self control. I thought, how am I meant to exhibit self control? Well, as it turns out Paul gave us the answer just a couple verses before!
Paul said, as Christians, we must control our sinful nature. He said that our sinful nature includes: “sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21).
The first three sins; sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery are sexual sins committed outside the bond of marriage. The next two sins; idolatry and witchcraft are religious sins against God. Whereas the next eight sins; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy are all social sins we commit against our fellow man. Finally, the last two sins, drunkenness, and orgies are related to excessive consumption of alcohol.
Lastly, Paul added the catch all, “and the like” to ensure that we understand that this list is not exhaustive!
Therefore, exhibiting self control as an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, means that I need to control myself, my emotions and desires, especially when facing temptation!
Paul’s list of areas, as to where I must exhibit self control covers just about every aspect of my life, and that’s before I get to his “and the like” comment!
Sins in the Workplace?
Remember, Paul’s exhortation is for us to exhibit self control in the workplace as a fruit of the Spirit. Perhaps some of you are thinking: “Well, I can see the issue with these sins in some situations, but they don’t happen in the workplace.” So, let’s go back through Paul’s self control list one-by-one and see if you or your coworkers have ever been tempted in these ways.
Sexual Sins (sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery)
I know some of you are reading this list of sexual sins and are thinking: “Well, that would never be me!” However, the fact of the matter is that surveys regularly demonstrate that the majority of sexual sins begins with a relationship that was established in the workplace. These workplace relationships should come as no surprise. After all, for many of us, the workplace is where we spend most of our time during the week. Thus, it is where temptation is most likely to arise!
Religious Sins (idolatry, witchcraft)
You may not think about idolatry and witchcraft as being an issue in the workplace, but they are. Mind you; I’m not talking about idolatry like someone worshipping a small golden calf on their desks. Neither am I talking about witchcraft as in a group of women wearing black robes with pointy hats chanting incantations.
There are other kinds of idolatry besides worshipping a golden calf. For example, secular humanism and relativism are commonplace in our workplaces today. Both are forms of idolatry because they replace the worship of God with the worship of man.
Additionally, I feel that the idea of witchcraft in the workplace needs an explanation. Paul’s reference is to a common practice in his day of using mind-altering substances in the worship of evil powers. Although witchcraft itself may not be a common practice today, using mind-altering drugs in the workplace has reached epidemic proportions.
Social Sins (hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy)
I suspect that this list of social sins is where the majority of us get in trouble the most! I doubt a day goes by when we are not tempted to exhibit one or more of these behaviors.
Alcohol Sins (drunkenness, orgies)
I’m hoping orgies aren’t commonplace in your workplace. Although, given the issue of sexual sins, which stem from workplace affairs, there might also be workplaces where this is an issue.
On the other hand, drunkenness is all too common in our work environments. Maybe not so much on a day-to-day basis. However, the temptation to drink to excess certainly exists at our annual meetings, conferences, and conventions!
Integrating Self Control into the Workplace
When I first thought about the instruction to exhibit self control, I thought the solution was going to be a relatively simple two-step process. First, I should avoid temptation whenever I can. Don’t put myself in places and situations where I am likely to be tempted. Second, when I am tempted, recognize the temptation and control myself!
It turns out my approach is both an overly simplistic and unreliable solution. My history is clear. I can’t always avoid tempting situations, and I certainly have not been able through force of will to control myself in every situation.
Moreover, this article from the Harvard Business Review recaps several studies that show self control is a finite resource!
They compare self control to physical strength. I can work my muscles at the gym lifting weights, but eventually, they will fail. So, I must give them time to rest and restore themselves before they can do more work.
As it turns out, self control is the same. We only have so much of it at a given point of time. Likewise, when it depletes, we must rest to restore our self control.
Perhaps that’s why I can maintain my self control for so long, fighting off temptation. Then I lose it. My self control is gone, and so is that piece of left-over German Chocolate cake!
Our Power is Not Sufficient
I believe the real answer to Paul’s admonition for us to exhibit self control in our lives does not come from our own power.
Yes, I should certainly avoid the temptation in the first place. And yes, I should do what I can to control my emotions and resist the temptation.
However, as the authors stated in the above Harvard article, the temptation may come when my self control stores are depleted. Then what?!
We must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. God said, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6). What we cannot do through our own force of will, our might, or our own power we can do through the power of the Holy Spirit.
My Super-Secret Plan Series
Last fall, I introduced my super-secret plan to integrate my faith into the workplace. The plan itself is simple: I will exhibit, to the best of my ability, the fruit of the Spirit in the workplace as Paul directed in Galatians 5:22-23, “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
No one can stop us from integrating our faith in the workplace by exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit!
The “Self Control” Aspect of My Super-Secret Plan is the tenth in a series, which examines how we, as Christians, can integrate our faith in the workplace.
If you missed one of the previous articles in the series, you can catch up here:
- #302: My Super-Secret Plan to Integrate My Faith into the Workplace
- #307: The “Love” Aspect of My Super-Secret Plan
- #311: The “Joy” Aspect of My Super-Secret Plan
- #315: The “Peace” Aspect of My Super-Secret Plan
- #324: The “Patience” Aspect of My Super-Secret Plan
- #333: The “Kindness” Aspect of My Super-Secret Plan
- #337: The “Goodness” Aspect of My Super-Secret Plan
- #341: The “Faithfulness” Aspect of My Super-Secret Plan
- •#346: The “Gentleness” Aspect of My Super-Secret Plan
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. How has self control as an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit been demonstrated in your workplace?
I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because of the people like you who share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?
Category: Skills |Empowerment
