Temperance: On the Path to Godliness

tem·per·ance

   [tem-per-uhns, tem-pruhns]  Show IPA

noun

1.

moderation or self-restraint in action, statement, etc.; self-control.

2.

habitual moderation in the indulgence of a natural appetite or passion

Key word: moderation. Self-control. This is where I'm at. If you have a minute, I'd like to let you peer down into the life that is Kale, and see what I'm learning. I'm not pretending to be an expert, actually I'm not even quite sure I'm doing it right, but this is what God is showing me in my life.

2 Peter 1:5-8:

⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

⁷ And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

⁸ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here, we find God, through Peter, outlining 7 steps (or stages) of spiritual maturity. After dividing the Word properly, we can learn why these steps should be followed in order. For instance, adding too much knowledge to your faith right after salvation, before virtue, can result in a big-headed, bridge-burning.....well.....jerk. 1 Corinthians 8:1 says that 'knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth'. This would be like giving a large sword to a young teenager who doesn't know how to use the sword, only that the sword is in his possession. There is a natural progression of growth in Christ. 

Now, I'm going to skip ahead here. To temperance. Notice, that temperance comes before patience. I'll get to that later, but here's what is going down in my life:

1. I'm married. 

2. I work full time

3. I like to work out, stay fit, go to the gym

4. I play on the worship team, and go to church every Sunday

5. I lead a worship team on tuesday nights

6. I disciple one young man

7. I go to school for theology

8. I spend time with God

9. I sleep at night

10. Did i mention I'm married?

You see, I have alot on my plate. Now I realize that I probably am not even close to having the busiest schedule. So hopefully, the following will help you as well! 

I have a full time job, which I utilize to support myself and my wife. That takes up most of my day. This is a priority. I used to stare at the clock at work and think ' I cant wait until I get out of here so I can get to my real job, my ministry, to what God has really called me to do.' This was not Godly thinking. Although I am going to school with hopes of being a pastor, I cannot blow off my job because I would rather "be doing ministry". I have learned, that my ministry is at work 40 hours per week. Rather than "prioritizing" my schedule during work, I need to focus on being a light, and a witness at work. Colossians 3 tells us to do everything as unto the Lord, for we serve Christ. 

Temperance, to me, is learning to take what God has already entrusted me with, and wisely using them for God's glory! I used to think that I needed to learn to be 'patient' as I waited on God to give me a ministry position. Patience is hard! It is not a natural action for humans! And trying to, led to me being fake about it, and not have the right attitude. I guess what I was hoping was that if God heard me say 'Look God! I'm content! I'm patient! I can wait!' That he would give me what i wanted. But, what i learned, is that first I must learn to 'temper' my schedule, and my priorities! 

God says in Colossians 4:17 to "....take heed to to the ministry which thou hast recieved in the Lord, that thou fulfill it."  Now that I realize that where ever God has me employed, that is my ministry. Those people (employees, customers, patients) are the harvest, white and ready to be reaped! I need to take heed to that ministry, and fulfill it without worrying about what is next. You see, I was trying my hardest to make myself patient! But that was wrong! As i follow the natural progression of God's growth, and learn to temper, and manage the ministry and responsibility God has placed in my life, I have naturally become patient! It's crazy, but if we just let God work in us, and draw closer to Him, He will provide the increase in our lives. We cannot make ourselves grow. Only He can.

I've left a lot out, such as the worship team I lead, and the growing ministry there, but thats not the point. As my best friend Nick Roth says, 

Listen, here's the deal:

If you want to grow in your faith, and want to be used by God, quit trying. Yep. That's it. Stop it. You are nothing. I am nothing. Without God, all our talents, and works and accomplishments are filthy rags. If you want to be used by God, if you want to grow, draw closer to Him. Spend time with Him, and surrender EVERYTHING to Him. Trust me, this is happening in my life right now. Temperance leads to patience, and consequently, patience will lead to a contentment that is only found in Christ. 

1 Timothy 6:6 - "But godliness with contentment is great gain."

Well what do you know, in 2 Peter 1,  godliness is what comes after patience. ;)


Laterzzz

Undeserving to breathe air,
Kale