The Difference Between Will Power and Self Control

"Be self controlled, be watchful."  1 Peter 5:8

"The fruit of the Spirit...is self-control" Galatians 5:22-23 

 

What's the difference between doing things "in your own strength," or by mere will power, and having self-control as a result of following the Spirit?

 

Imagine this.

 

Benson is a single virgin man.   Mandy, whose been flirting with him for a week, comes to his desk in a bright red very low cut shirt, with a note tucked between her voluptuous breasts.  "Hey," she breathes, leaning on his desk.  Mandy takes the note from between her breasts and leaves it on Benson's desk. The peach perfume on the note fills Bensons nostrils.  He knows he has a choice:  Choose or refuse to read the note.  It's obvious what's going to be in it anyway.  But against his conscience, he opens the aromatic note and reads these words, "I'm tired of waiting and giving you signals. I wants us to go to Hotel 6 after work and have quick, meaningless sex."  Feeling sweat on his chest, Benson  tells himself over and over again, "I will not go to the hotel with Mandy."

 

Imagine Benson again, same motivation, same temptation.  But with this addition.  With his sexual arousal, and Mandy's alluring desirableness, Benson experiences a third desire: The Holy Spirit in Benson desiring a deep connection with him.  The Spirit's desire for Benson feels like a cup of creamy steamy hot chocolate on the coldest day in winter, and at the same time like an ice cold lemonade on the hottest day of summer.  The choice is between a deep lasting meaningful satisfaction, and the passing pleasure of his favorite once a year State Fair cotton candy that  is sexy Mandy.  So instead of telling himself NOT to lust after Mandy, he chooses to focus on fulfilling the Spirit's desires in him, and refuses to focus on fulfilling either his or Mandy's desires.

Click HERE for Part 2.