Posts Tagged: Galatians 5:22-23
“Self-Discipline: The Good, the Bad, and the Very Very Ugly”
“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; . . . .” (Galatians 5:22-23, English Standard Version)
Usually, I think of self-discipline as a good thing. However, in a recent twelve-step meeting, a couple of people pointed out that it ain’t necessarily so.
One of my fellow-addicts said that, for him, a rigid self-discipline and a tight schedule were ways of avoiding reality. And (of course) all that addicts ever want out of reality is out—out of reality, that is. Another twelve-stepper commented that acquiring self-discipline is, in a sense, part of the problem. What we really need to acquire is humility.
It is true that sometimes people use self-control in unhealthy ways. They can use their own self-control to manipulate and control others. (“I am losing weight. Why aren’t you?”) Also, people can use self-control in one area—or even in many areas—of their life to justify being out of control in another. (“Sure, I drink too much, but I always show up for work on time.”) I’m sure that there are other ways of misusing self-control. There are always many ways of turning our virtues into vices. Humans are quite adept at this.
This doesn’t mean that self-control is inherently a bad thing. It does mean that self-control can be used in misguided ways. Perhaps this is why, in Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit in his letter to the Galatian Christ-followers, Paul mentions self-control last. Maybe it is only as we cultivate love (which leads off the list) and all the other virtues in the list that self-control assumes its proper role in our lives.
“A Fruit-Only Diet”
I have decided to go on a fruit-only diet. Nope! Not talking about apples, grapes, melons, strawberries, and pineapple. (Well, definitely not pineapple only!)
I am speaking of “the fruit of the Spirit.”
My wife and I have been trying to memorize the fruit of the Spirit. Paul mentions them in Galatians 5:22-23. Here is the relevant passage, along with a bit of context:
“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26, English Standard Version)
Now, it is not only that my wife and I are trying to memorize the fruit of the Spirit. We/I can’t seem to get away from continual reminders about them.
For example, this morning I used them in the daily affirmation that is part of my daily report to my twelve-step sponsor. “Today, by God’s grace, I will cultivate the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Then, I turned to my daily 3-Minute Retreat from Loyola Publishing, and guess what I encountered at https://www.loyolapress.com/retreats/living-in-freedom-start-retreat? Do you really need a second guess? Yep! The fruit of the Spirit—again!
A couple of days ago, in our preparation to be leaders for a “Rooted Experience” group, my wife and I were reading and journaling about (yes, you guessed it) the work of the Holy Spirit, including the fruit of the Spirit.
So, why was Paul reminding the Galatians about this fruit-only diet? He was writing to churches that he had helped to birth. Apparently, Paul had heard that they were eating a lot of spiritual junk food. Some of the believers were adding a lot of stuff to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul says to them, “Look! If you live by the good news of Jesus Christ, and by his Spirit, you’ll live a good life. But if you try to add a bunch of stuff, you’ll end up at one another’s throats.”
But aren’t we a lot like the Galatian believers? We find a good thing, and then we decide that we can make it even better. Sometimes, perhaps, we succeed, but more often than not, we ruin the good thing we’ve found.
Paul says to these mixed-up believers, “If you keep in step with God’s Holy Spirit, good qualities will be evident in your life.” In other words, what you need is a fruit-only diet.
These good qualities, this fruit of the spirit, operate in three directions. Metaphorically, we might think of this spatially—as outward, upward, and inward.
“Outwardly” refers to other people. The fruit of the Spirit is a matter of treating other people with love, joy, etc. This is likely why, in verse 26, Paul warns the Galatians against practicing spiritual cannibalism. If they (if we) are cultivating the fruit of the Spirit, they (and we) will not be eating one another alive.
While Paul doesn’t say this explicitly, there is also the upward aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. When we are cultivating the fruit of the Spirit, it pleases God. I believe that even the desire to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit pleases God. How much more so, if we are actually practicing works of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! Even in a very rudimentary form, these qualities honor God.
But there is also the inner aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. I’ve noticed that when I am more loving, more peaceful, more kind, etc., I am so much happier. This is certainly true when I am practicing these qualities toward others.
However, there is another side to this inner aspect of a fruit-only diet, and it is this: I need to practice these qualities toward myself. For example, what would my life be like if I practiced kindness and gentleness toward myself? Maybe I should try it and find out.
A good and wise friend of mine often says that he wants to be a person of integrity. He often couples that with being gentle with himself. Yes!
So, I’m going on a fruit-only diet. I’ll let you know from time to time how it’s going. I don’t know if I’ll lose weight, but I suspect that I will gain character.
Come to think of it, diets of every kind are easier if you do them with other people. Care to join me in my fruit-only diet?
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
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