SELF-RESTRAINT
"You were bought with a price--purchased with a preciousness and paid for [by Christ]; then do not yield yourselves up to become [in your own estimation] slaves to men [but consider yourselves slaves to Christ]" (1 Corinthians 7:23 AMP).
In chapter seven of the first letter to the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul is urging the Corinthian believers to exercise restraint over their passions (sexual desires) and, later on, to restrain themselves from striving after more than what God has allotted them in this life (1Corinthians 7:17).
Corinthian society, like modern societies today, was extremely self-indulgent. And, in order for the Corinthian Christ-followers to live for Christ in their corrupt society, they would need to practice self-restraint. So it is for us as Christ-followers today. For the most part, this portion of the letter deals with sexual passions and marriage relationships. However, self-restraint is to be exercised in every aspect of life--whether in marriage or singleness, buying or selling, grieving or rejoicing [any dealings we may have with this world]. Paul taught that we needed to focus on Jesus Christ and serving God, so as to gain a heavenly reward, rather than focusing on and serving our passions and fleshly indulgences for a temporary enjoyment. "For the outward form of the world--the present world order--is passing away" (1 Corinthians 7:31b).
The unrestrained desires for pleasure and self-gratification are the foremost cause of "all anxiety and distressing care" (1 Corinthians 7:32). It is never more important to practice self-restraint, as followers of Jesus Christ, that when living in a society corrupted by over-indulgence of the flesh and its desires. For this is where sin originates and is encouraged. And, sin separates us from God. Think about it.
© S.M. Hudson, Hidden Treasure Ministries, December 2003. All rights reserved.
Categories: forgiveness
