True Temperance

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 11, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 27.

THE last virtue named in the list of the fruits of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22, 23, is temperance. This does not mean that if there be other Christian graces, they are not the fruit of the Spirit. These are but samples of the fruit; for the tree of righteousness, the life of which is the Spirit of God, bears every good fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is all-embracing. From this Source of life springs everything that is good.

Temperance is defined as being “habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions.” A better definition is, perhaps, “the moderate use of that which is good, and total abstinence from all things evil;” or this: “the moderate and proper use of that which is good.” The original word in the text rendered “temperance” means “self-control;” and self-control, the control of self in God’s way, and according to His rule, includes all the above definitions and more. It means the subjection of human lust and passion to the will of God; for it is only the power of God in man that can control man.

Temperance is often applied to the moderate use of, or total abstinence from, intoxicating liquors. That intemperance in appetite reaches its climax in such indulgence, that the victims wrecked and swept to eternal destruction number here their millions where elsewhere they number thousands, that no words can tell or brush portray the misery, agony, wretchedness, wo, and utter despair which everywhere follow the blasting, blighting alcoholic fiend, need not be recounted here. All know more or less of the dread blight. Almost every home has seen or sadly felt its shame and wo. But intemperance in alcoholic drinks is the last mile in the journey, not the first. It is the fruit, not the seed sowing. It is the midnight, not the sunrise. It is the irresistible torrent, not the source of the stream.

Intemperance begins with the infant. Oftentimes it is taught it from the mother’s breast. Self is indulged. The appetite is perverted by too frequent feeding. While the little one should still be eating milk, its natural food, it is fed on spiced cakes or pies; it is given sips of tea or coffee; later it partakes of stimulating meats, irritating, spiced foods, pickles, has its cup of tea or coffee; and right here is taken the first step in intemperance. The appetite is perverted, becomes abnormal, craves stimulating and various foods and drinks—the will becomes weakened; the child has never been taught self-control. And to such cases, when the temptation to use tobacco, a stepping-stone to alcohol, is presented, the victim of perverted appetite and self-indulgence falls an easy prey. When the temptation is presented to drink beer or wine, or some of the lighter liquors, the same weak, self-indulgent appetite yields; and the occasional drinker becomes a moderate drinker, the moderate drinker a drunkard. The evil began in the home circle, around the family table. The fond but too unwisely indulgent parents, if they have not given the appetite to the son as an inheritance, have trained him in the first steps of the way of intemperance. These are facts for parents, Christian parents, to ponder.