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Self-ControlHeaven will be filled with only one kind of person: the kind that so desperately wantedto get there that he absolutely would not be denied.No one will accidentally get to Heaven. No one will just happen upon it one day, havinggone out for a leisurely walk down the path of life with no apparent destination in mind.No one will have the wrong address and mistakenly knock on Heaven’s gate.No one will just end up there.This is because we live in a sin-stricken world. As a result, we are bombarded bytemptations that constantly distract us from the path to Heaven. Because of this, fewpeople will get there. (Matthew 7:13-14)Heaven is reserved only for those who have developed the self-control to get there.Living Without Self-Control......is like letting all of your defenses down and begging to be overrun by the world. It’slike throwing the front door of your life wide open and saying to Satan, “Come on in!”“Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over hisspirit.” (Proverbs 25:28, NASB)Living with self-control, on the other hand, makes a man better “than he who captures acity.” (Proverbs 16:32, NASB) Self-DisciplineJim Rohn once said that, “Everyone must choose one of two pains: the pain of disciplineor the pain of regret.”He was exactly right.We cannot escape that choice. Either we will subject ourselves to the rigors ofdeveloping a disciplined life or we will suffer the true pain of having not developed adisciplined life.If godliness is our goal, self-discipline is a requirement.The Steps Of Self-DisciplineSelf-discipline is achieved by doing three things:1. Training our intellect. The first step toward a life of self-discipline is to gainknowledge. One cannot discipline himself unless he knows he needs to.“...Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge...” (2 Peter 1:5,NKJV) As Christians, we recognize that the knowledge we must seek is the knowledge thatcomes from God...the knowledge of truth:“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to besaved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4, NASB)In our quest for knowledge, though, we must guard against that which deceptivelymasquerades as truth:“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge andall discernment...” (Philippians 1:9, NASB)This is imperative, because the knowledge of the world will fill our minds with nothingof substance. If we pursue this intellectual cotton candy, we’ll be “always learning andnever able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7, NASB).We must also avoid deceiving ourselves into believing that mere enthusiasm for seekingknowledge is equal to actually having knowledge:“For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according toknowledge...” (Romans 10:2, NKJV)2. Conforming our will to our intellect. The second step in achieving a life of selfdisciplineis to harmonize one’s will with the knowledge he has acquired.Assuming that the knowledge one has gained is the knowledge of truth (knowledge fromGod), this step will orient a person toward the right path.Gaining the knowledge is finding out which path is right. Conforming one’s will to thatknowledge is moving onto that correct path.If the acquired knowledge is not the knowledge of truth, conforming one’s will to thaterrant knowledge will only compound the existing problem. As Stephen Covey said, “Ifyour ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step you take gets you to thewrong place faster.”Step 1 is about discovering God’s will. Step 2 is about choosing to make His will our will. In the previous lesson, we began to explore the subject of self-control, as we took a lookat its first major component: self-discipline. This week, we finish our exploration of thetopic by considering the second major component of self-control: moderation.

Envy Though Scripture addresses many sins, it describes few as bluntly as it does envy. In Proverbs 14:30, Solomon writes that “...envy is rottenness to the bones” (NKJV).Envy has the ability to consume one’s character in the same way gangrene consumesone’s body, and it can do this with the speed of an unrelenting cancer.The Bible is rife with examples of envy and its destructiveness:• Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)• Sarah and Hagar (Genesis 16)• Rachel and Leah (Genesis 30:1)• Joseph’s brothers and Joseph (Genesis 37:11)• Korah and Moses (Numbers 16)• The Jewish leaders and Jesus (Mark 15:10)• The Jewish leaders and Paul (Acts 13:45)Individuals consumed with envy are often driven to destroy the object of their envy, andthese Biblical examples demonstrate that.Envy is not content to simmer in one’s heart. It does more than compel one to actdestructively, it propels one toward destructive action. The effects of envy are oftenmore than simply disastrous, they are swiftly disastrous.Because of this, God declares in no uncertain terms that those who are envious will notinherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:21). The Problems With EnvyHere are four reasons why God detests envy:Envy is carnal. On more than one occasion, Scripture describes envy as appealing totemporal and base desires:“For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, areyou not carnal and behaving like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:3, NKJV)“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are...envy...” (Galatians 5:19,21, NKJV)The problem with this?It’s exactly the opposite of what Christians are commanded to focus on:“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, whereChrist is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on thethings that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2, NASB) Envy is contrary to love. 1 Corinthians 13:4 clearly states that love “does notenvy” (NKJV).We can love, or we can envy, but we cannot do both.If our aim is to be godly, the choice is obvious:“God is love and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him.” (1John 4:16, NASB)Envy produces confusion and all kinds of evil. Envy is a gateway sin, leading to amultitude of other evils:“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” (James3:16, NKJV)Envy leads one to destroy the object of his envy. This was mentioned at the startof the lesson. Envy is not satisfied to merely feel ill toward another, it thrives ondestructive action against another.To drive this point home, we need only remember the heinous death that our Saviorsuffered.Even Pilate could see through the Jews’ murderous motives:“For he [Pilate] knew that because of envy they [the Jews] had handed Himover.” (Matthew 27: 18, NASB) The Heart Of The MatterAt the end of the day, the most important thing in life is relationship.Every command of God revolves around relationship, either to Him or to others. Everysingle one.“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and withall your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘Youshall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the wholeLaw and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40, NASB)Thus, anything that promotes God-approved relationship is good and right, andanything that destroys God-approved relationship is sin.Envy is the latter. KindnessIf envy rots a person to the core, kindness breathes new life into dead men’s bones.Mark Twain once said, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blindcan see.”It transcends language, background, intelligence level, and religious bent. It has thepower to lift up the downtrodden and the power to humble the arrogant.While envy burns bridges, kindness builds them.

When asked what the first commandment of all was, Jesus promptly responded bysaying that one should love the Lord with all his being. He then appended a secondcommand to the first and prefaced it by saying that it is like the first (as in, similar inimportance): “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (see Matthew 22:35-40)If there was any doubt as to the weight of the second command in comparison to that ofthe first, Jesus cleared it up by stating that, “On these two commandments depend thewhole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:40, NASB)In a similar situation, recorded in Luke 10, Jesus was asked by an individual how hemight obtain eternal life. Jesus responded by citing the same two commands. (see Luke10:25-28)The message is clear: Those who are to be called by Christ’s name must not only lovetheir Creator with complete dedication, but they must view their neighbor as worthy ofthe care and concern usually only reserved for oneself.Charity (or generosity) is not a peripheral command. It is in fact at the very heart ofwhat it means to be a Christian. One cannot be an uncharitable Christian any more thanup can be down or wet can be dry. Charity is inherent in Christianity.No matter what the culture around us screams, Jesus quietly reminds us that, “It ismore blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)(As a note, this lesson will focus on charity and generosity in the context of money/material possessions, as this is the counterpart lesson to the one on greed. Obviously,though, Christian charity/generosity extends far beyond just our stewardship offinancial/material resources.)The Difference Between Greed and CharityAt its root, greed stems from a person’s misinterpretation of himself. While a charitable person recognizes that he is merely a means to an end (insofar asfinancial/material resources go), a greedy person considers himself an end.While a charitable person understands that he is simply a funnel through whichfinancial and material resources can be spread to those in greater need, a greedy personmisinterprets himself as a collection tank, where resources are to be pooled indefinitely.A charitable person is like a body of water that has streams flowing both into and out ofit. A greedy person, though, is like the Salt Sea, which water only flows into.While the greedy person deludes himself into thinking that a constant inflowing streamof resources (with no balancing outflow) produces a much more vibrant existence, thecharitable person knows that the opposite is true.It’s no coincidence that the Salt Sea is also known as the Dead Sea.Life cannot be sustained when resources only flow inward.The Hang-UpsWhy then do we struggle to be as charitable as we ought to be?Here are three reasons:1. We think what we have belongs to us. This goes back to the concept of an endversus a means to an end.We often forget that we are not owners, we are stewards. Owners are the end. Stewardsare a means to an end.God has surely blessed us with much, but He’s not blessed us with things that are ours.He’s entrusted to us things that are His.From the outset, a clearheaded steward understands that what is put in front of him isto be used for the purposes dictated by the owner. The steward is the instrument bywhich the owner’s purposes are carried out. Nothing more, nothing less.2. We have a scarcity mentality. As opposed to an abundance mentality.One says that there’s only enough for some. The other says that there’s enough foreveryone. When we view material resources as limited quantities (which is exactly the wayadvertisers want us to view them), we consider the attempt to obtain them acompetition: “I’ve got to get them before someone else does, or there won’t be any leftfor me.” There is a winner and a loser: He who obtains wins, and he who doesn’t loses.When we view the reservoir of material resources as able to provide for everyone, we nolonger view the obtaining of them as a compe

“Money, money, money. Always sunny in the rich man's world...All the things I could doif I had a little money.”More than almost any other, this mindset dominates the collective Americanconsciousness in the twenty-first century.Cleverly cloaked by political correctness as “consumerism,” greed has become a drivingforce in our culture. The very thing that draws so many immigrants to our country--the“American Dream”--is often described primarily in material terms. For many years now,the symbol of achievement for Americans has not been freedom, education, or goodhealth...it’s been homeownership.And because money dominates much of our personal conversation, it should be nosurprise that it dominates our political conversation as well. Presidents are often electedbased on their ability to enhance the national economy. If they succeed in that endeavor,we send them back for another term. If they fail, we replace them. The rise and fall ofmen who hold the world’s most powerful office is largely based on their ability to padthe wallets of the Americans who elect them.Oscar Wilde once commented, “When I was young, I thought that money was the mostimportant thing in life. Now that I’m old, I know that it is.” Though most of us wouldn’tlet these words escape from our lips, we betray our hearts by the avaricious lifestyles welive.Nothing New Under The SunIf there is any consolation in this discussion of greed, it’s that greed is not a newproblem. Though Americans have perfected the art, we did not invent it.Scripture is chockfull of individuals overcome by the magnetic pull of greed: From Lotchoosing the better land for his livestock (Genesis 13) to Achan pilfering booty from thewreckage of Jericho (Joshua 7). From Gehazi wrongfully profiting from Naaman (2Kings 5) to Ananias and Sapphira lying about their income (Acts 5). The list isstaggering.And of, course, the story of the very Son of God is inextricably tied to greed. Jesus wasnot betrayed for glory, honor, fame, good health, or a long life...but for 30 pieces ofsilver.The Messiah, the Son of the Creator of the universe, was not delivered over for anythingmore than a pocketful of money.Greed is a plague that has infected mankind almost since day one.The Problem(s) With GreedAccordingly, Scripture has much to say against greed. Consider the following as a nonexhaustivelist of God’s comments on the subject:• Greed is characterized by a tendency to hoard material possessions tooneself. (See Luke 12:16-21)• Greed can destroy one’s sympathy, compassion, and concern for the lessfortunate. (See Proverbs 18:23; Consider also Luke 16:19-31 and 1 Timothy 6:17)• Greed focuses one’s attention on the wrong kind of treasure. (See Matthew6:19-21)• Greed can prompt one to take advantage of others in order to gain wealth.(See James 5:1-5; Consider also Proverbs 13:11)• Greed consumes one’s time and energy. (See Proverbs 23:4)• Greed is never satiated. (See Ecclesiastes 5:10)• Greed can be complicit with a multitude of other sins. (See 2 Timothy 3:1-5)• Greed is the opposite of contentment, which is commanded by God. (See 1Timothy 6:6-8; Consider also Hebrews 13:5)• Greed prevents one from being a public servant of the church. (See 1Timothy 3:8)• Greed prevents one from being a leader in the church. (1 Timothy 3:3, Titus1:7)• Greed leads to grief, ruin, and destruction. (See 1 Timothy 6:9-10)• Greed prevents one from being able to serve God. (See Matthew 6:24)Just Avoid ItIn the final analysis, greed compels us to do what Will Smith once described as“spending money we don’t have to buy things we don’t want to impress people we don’tlike.”And as Christians, we must simply avoid it altogether.

A farmer who doesn’t work doesn’t eat.Crops don’t raise themselves.The farmer who wants produce at harvest must work the whole season.He may try to buck the system. He may try to cheat the system. He may try to beat thesystem. Ultimately, though, he cannot. He cannot break the natural laws that Godestablished; he can only break himself against those laws.“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sowsbountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6, NASB)DiligenceDiligence is a defining character trait of the godly individual.Scripture bears this out in multiple passages:• “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah29:13, NASB)• “...He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NKJV)• “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents,saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with afew things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of yourmaster.’” (Matthew 25:20-21, NASB)• “All hard work brings a profit...” (Proverbs 14:23, NIV)Given God’s preference for diligence, He shows little sympathy for the person whochooses laziness:“...if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10,NASB) Characteristics of True DiligenceTrue diligence can be recognized by several characteristics:It results from internal motivation. The diligent person needs no goading orprodding to start what needs to be started. Neither does he need constant supervisionnor chaperoning to ensure that he finishes what needs to be finished.“Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officeror ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in theharvest.” (Proverbs 6:6-8, NASB)It begins with the end in mind. The diligent person does not expend efforthaphazardly. Instead, he organizes, plans, and maps out his work in such a way that hewill achieve his desired results. He realizes that particular results require particularefforts.“Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officeror ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in theharvest.” (Proverbs 6:6-8, NASB)The winter stockpile only materializes if the ant plans ahead and starts collecting in thesummer and fall. No forethought, no food in the winter.It is productive, not simply busy. The diligent person recognizes that not all busynessis business. He thus chooses only to engage in productive effort.“For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work atall, but acting like busybodies.” (2 Thessalonians 3:11, NASB)It’s possible to be busy without accomplishing anything productive. Not all effort iscreated equal. Wheels can spin both in the sand and on the road, but only one of thoseresults in forward progress.It is ultimately focused on more than self-satisfaction. Diligence brings greatreward to the one exerting the effort:• “...the hand of the diligent makes rich.” (Proverbs 10:4, NASB)• “...the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” (Proverbs 13:4, NKJV)• “He who tills his land will have plenty of food...” (Proverbs 28:19, NASB)• “In all labor there is profit...” (Proverbs 14:23, NASB) In the end, though, diligence sees a higher purpose:“He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his ownhands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who hasneed.” (Ephesians 4:28, NASB)The Underlying MotivationUnderneath it all, the motivation that ought to drive us to be people of diligence is thatwe work for our Creator.“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowingthat from the L

If your life was a garden and God called in the harvest today, how much produce wouldyou have to offer Him?Scripture indicates that we will be judged by our fruit (Matthew 7:15-23). This iscertainly a sobering reality if we must admit that our produce is rotten. But it’sdevastating if we must admit that our tree is barren and has produced no fruit at all.God reserves a special kind of disdain for laziness, apathy, and general inaction:“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of Mymouth.” (Revelation 3:16, NKJV)In a sense, negative action is better than no action at all.“Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy one to those who sendhim.” (Proverbs 10:26, NASB)When we embrace a life of laziness, we become an irritant to the very God who createdus “in Christ Jesus for good works.” (Ephesians 2:10)Work Is Not EvilWork and labor are not the results of sin.Humanity has not been subjected to the rigors of productive activity as a backlashagainst and punishment for its sinful rebellion against God.Though the laziness in us would object to this sentiment, work is inherently good.Consider the fact that one of the main reasons God placed Adam in the garden of Edenwas to work: “Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden tocultivate it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15, NASB)Yes, the work became much more difficult after Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3:17-20),but work existed long before sin entered the world. So, as Christians, we would do well to dispense with the delusion that work is theenemy.Our primary purpose in this life is not to eat, drink, and be merry. It is to be productive.“God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31,NASB)That includes having put man in the garden to cultivate it and keep it.Rest Is Only Rest If......it is preceded by work.Otherwise, it’s laziness.“By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and he rested on theseventh day from all His work which He had done.” (Genesis 2:2, NASB)God rested, there is no doubt about that. But, He rested after He had worked. (Not justafter He had worked, but after He had created the universe. Maybe that raises the bar abit for what counts as work deserving of rest...)Scripture says that God rested one day out of seven. The majority of His time that firstweek was spent working.Not sitting around twiddling His thumbs. Not being busy just to be busy.The majority of the first week was spent being productive.Not only did God not spend His time the first week being lazy, He did not slog His waythrough the six days of work, simply living for the weekend when He could take a breakand relax.God took joy in His work, even while He was doing it. Seven times in Genesis 1 it ismentioned that God saw what He had done throughout the first six days and determinedthat it was good.The moral to the story?Work is good. Laziness is not.