CONTROL YOUR INTAKE: Titus 2:2

"Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance." Titus 2:2

I find it interesting that the list for older men is longer than the list for younger men (see verse 6). Maybe that is because older men set the example for younger men to follow. 

The first characteristic  that I as a man should seek is to be temperate. In the Greek it is a word that can be translated sober. I take it to mean that I need to govern my intake. Whatever that might be I need to be vigilant as to its role in my life. 

Of course when you say sober you think of alcohol. I am going to say this as I  see it. I have seen people who "don't drink, don't smoke, don't dance and don't run with those who do" act in some very ungodly ways. I have see people who do all the above act in some very Christlike, gracious and giving ways. The issue is who controls your heart and mind. If alcohol, drugs, pornagraphy or something else controls you, that is your master. If the love of Christ controls and compels you, Christ is your Savior and Lord. 

In reality it is a simple issue. Does it control you? I mean does it move you to decide? When I am making the basic decisions of my day is the desire for something else distracting me from choosing wisely? I need to be in control of what I let influence me.

To be temperate, or sober is to have a clear head when living your daily life. 

Father, help us to be temperate and let you control our thinking. Help us to look to you as we live our daily lives in this world but not of this world. Praise be to you in us today!

STRENGTH BY GENTLENESS: I Timothy 3:2-3

Occasionally I will watch the Discovery Channel and one of the shows is called "The Devils Ride" which is a "reality" TV series about a biker gang. What is pretty obvious is that most of the members pretty much enjoy being intoxicated and fighting. The one I saw the other night involved one member "having a little fun" by dragging a bike from a rival gangs member around and messing it up. Then a war breaks out between the two gangs. That generally the results of drunkenness mixed with a violent temperament. These are not men who qualify for spiritual leadership.  

"Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money." I Timothy 3:2-3

A results of one member of the Laughing Devils actions was that the rival gang began following one of Laughing Devils "ol' ladies". Putting your family in harms way or in danger is not manhood as God sees it, nor is it good family leadership. That is why Paul tells Timothy that spiritual leaders should not to be given to drunkenness and not to be violent but to be gentle. That does not mean to be a wimp and not protect your family. 

What Paul is talking about is control. What controls or governs your actions? Are you led by your allegiance to Christ or does your anger govern your choices and actions? There are some people who always seem to argue and fighting seems to be the only way to resolve anything. Constant drama. 

As a husband and a father I have to make sure that the Spirit of God is controlling my actions because I am living in obedience and by faith. If I am not controlled by Christ, I will be controlled by something, namely my sinful nature. The sinful nature loves to brawl, loves to get its' way, loves to do whatever makes it feel good for the moment. The result is usually havoc and destruction. My marriage and children do not need any violence. They need me to be a godly man not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle. 

Father, help us to be controlled by you as we seek to live in obedience and by faith. Praise be to you in us today!