A City That is Broken

A City That is Broken

Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.

Proverbs 25:28

The Scripture offers to us an excellent insight into our own selves.  It acts as both mirror and searchlight upon the human psyche.  The wonderful thing about that fact is that when the Scripture shows us how we are, it does so in such a way as to give us a vivid, and memorable lesson.  Our text for today speaks to the issue of self-control in just such a fashion.  Here we find that, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”

Our inability to control our own spirit will render us devastated, and defenseless.  What does the person to whom our text refers to lack?  He lacks self control.  He has “no rule over his own spirit.”  We usually think of this lack of control in terms of “a hair trigger temper,” or “a short fuse,” but it is not limited to that aspect of our spirit alone.  What of the lack of the ability to control that rising spirit of jealousy, or bitterness, or discontent, or self-pity?  How do we manage the onslaught of pride, self-righteousness, or lust?  If we fail to exercise rule over our “own spirit,” our text describes us as being “like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”  Such a place offers us no resistance to the enemy.  Whoever wants free access into it is able at any time to gain entrance, and there to take control.  Those who would ordinarily seek refuge in its security cannot, because of the state of affairs.  This is the case with the person who lacks self-control.  Is it thus with you?  Do you find that Satan gains easy advantage over you, because you cannot control your own spirit?  Do you find that others who should be able to shelter with you cannot because you have an uncontrolled spirit?  The loss you suffer by this problem may be irreparable.  “A city that is broken down” is liable to lose whatever is of value in it.  It will lose the confidence of others, and become useless for the very purpose for which it exists.  Who can aid you in this vital matter?  Christ can.

We need Christ to help us in the matter.  Self-control cannot be the result of our own doing. We cannot muster it up on our own. The Scriptures clearly teach us that it is, well and truly, a fruit of the Spirit. Self-control flows out of a believer’s life as we depend on the working of Christ in the renewing of our minds and hearts. One of my ministers used to say, ‘The contemplation of Christ leads to the imitation of Christ.’ We will certainly aid ourselves in gaining better control over our own spirit by a continual placing of Christ before our eyes. Behold, how He responded graciously to the most severely provocative, adversarial behavior.  The best way for you to gain and maintain control over your own spirit is for you to be under the control of the Holy Spirit through Christ. His control of you makes as for your control of yourself under Him. Fly to Christ to gain control over your own spirit.

Our Precious Savior, 

we pray that Thou wilt

send Thy Holy Spirit in power

to control us in every area of life.

Give us grace to live lives of spiritual self-control.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice