Self-Control: Let the Holy Spirit Push My Buttons

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self control.- Proverbs 25:28.

A hot tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.- Proverbs 15:18.

It is to a man’s honour to avoid stife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.-Proverbs 20:30.

“A 25-year-old allegedly smashed a glass in another man’s face at a Mandurah pub last night, causing him serious facial injuries.

The 27-year-old Dudley Park man suffered a 15cm gash to his cheek and neck and was taken to Mandurah Hospital before being transferred to Royal Perth Hospital for plastic surgery.

Police will allege the incident started with a verbal argument between the two men at the Brighton Hotel about 10pm. The 25-year-old man is accused of smashing his beer glass on a table and then allegedly using it to stab the 27-year-old several times in his face.

The 25-year-old man has been charged with grievous bodily harm and been remanded in custody to appear in the Perth’s magistrates Office tomorrow.” 27/03/2011- GABRIELLE KNOWLES, The West Australian

News reports and headlines are filled with such true stories as this, not only in Western Australia but all over the world. It seems that it has become so easy for us to push other’s buttons and so easy to become aggressive over the smallest issues. News reports on the aggressive way that men and women deal with conflict in our culture is increasing. I am appalled at what innocent (and not so innocent) people get punched, glasses and stabbed for. What has happened to the virtues of self control and patience?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22.

In our disposable society, we are treating humans as disposable. How sad! Life needs to be valued.

Media violence, alcohol, drugs, illness, pain and disappointment can all contribute to the state of aggression. That is why we must watch what we feed our bodies and our minds. 

We must ask ourselves, what is making us angry and aggressive?  And then find constructive ways to deal with it. We must ask ourselves, do we need to occasionally stop in the fast lane of life and rest in Jesus?  Are our busy and hectic lifestyles sending us crazy? Do we need to do wholesome things in some of  those good old fashioned ways? Do we value our lives and others?

Aggression is also fueled when life has no purpose.

Reading about Jesus’s life in the Bible, always sets me straight. He is someone who leads by example.

When was the last time you read the Gospels?   Why not read Matthew, Mark, Luke or John in the New Testament today?

As you read, you may find that aggression falls away with each verse you read.

Jesus knows my personality and  the right buttons to push to make me whole.