He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
He that has no rule over his own spirit lacks the self-control that guards conduct and is like a city broken down and without walls, defenseless, unprotected and exposed to attack. Without that inward rule there is no defense against sin and evil, for when God's word and Spirit are not restraining and guiding, human willpower alone cannot resist and overcome evil. True strength of character is rule over one's own spirit, for uncontrolled passion is weakness and greatness is shown in feelings subdued, in restraining anger even when abused and in forgiving enemies. That failure to govern the spirit shows itself especially in hasty, impatient and passionate speech, which is not excused as unguarded and can break hearts, estrange friends and wreck lives with harm that later repentance cannot undo. One who cannot govern his own spirit is not fit to govern or dictate to others, for he cannot judge rightly and without selfishness.
City Without Walls
To have no rule over one's own spirit is to lack the self-control needed to guard conduct, leaving one like a city broken down and without walls. Such a condition is defenseless, unprotected, and exposed to attack, without the protection and security that walls give a city. The failure to govern the spirit is especially seen in hasty, impatient, passionate, harsh, and careless speech, which is not excused by saying the words were unguarded or unintended. Those words can break hearts, estrange friends, and wreck lives, causing lasting harm and damage that later repentance cannot undo. Anger and uncontrolled speech in this state expose a person to sin and Satan's influence, stir up strife, and misrepresent God, so self-control is necessary for a life fit for God's kingdom.
Without such self-rule there is no defense against sin and evil. When God's word and Spirit are rejected, or are not restraining and guiding, the soul's defenses are broken down. Human willpower alone cannot then resist and overcome evil, and a person can sink to great depths. Strength of character is rule over one's own spirit, while uncontrolled passion is weakness and not strength. Greatness is measured by feelings subdued rather than by feelings that master him, shown in restraining anger even when abused and in forgiving enemies.
Ruling the spirit means keeping oneself under discipline, resisting evil, and regulating every word and deed by God's standard of righteousness. One who so rules rises above slights, rebuffs, and daily annoyances, so that they no longer cast a gloom over the spirit. Self-control means ruling the inner life rather than being enslaved by its desires, and young people are to be taught this early. A simple, healthful diet helps prevent cravings for unnatural stimulants. Rule over one's own spirit is temperance carried into all the details of home life, with appetite held under the will and the will governed by calm, intelligent reason. It means eating to live and not living to eat, with the child's will not made law and whims not continually indulged. It is taught by parental example and by enforcing self-denial and self-control from babyhood, teaching little ones from the cradle to stifle outbursts of temper and subdue fits of passion, which saves much parental anxiety and grief.
Speech and Temper
Hasty, impatient, and passionate speech is evidence that the spirit is not governed, for lack of rule over oneself shows itself in the tongue. Such outbursts are not excused by claiming the words were unguarded or unintended. Harsh, careless, hasty and passionate words break hearts, estrange friends, and wreck lives. The harm they do is lasting, and later repentance cannot undo it all.
Anger and uncontrolled speech lay the soul open to sin and to Satan's influence. They stir up strife and misrepresent God, so the control of self is required for a life made fit for God's kingdom. An uncontrolled temper injures personal influence and brings troubles that could have been avoided. Governing the temper and bridling the tongue prevents such conflict, and a well-regulated temper is a benefit to those around.
Loss of self-control can develop under overwork and strain. Then judgment is weakened, and disagreement with plans or questioning of them provokes increased sensitivity and resentment.
Fitness to Govern Others
He who cannot govern his own spirit is not fit to govern or dictate to others. This is especially true before demanding submission from a spouse, for an uncontrolled, changeable temperament exercised in arbitrary authority cannot earn love or respect. For the same reason, those who cannot control their own spirit are unfit to manage religious interests, since without self-rule they cannot judge rightly and without selfishness.
Parents must guard themselves especially when fretful, controlling their words and refusing to burden their children with irritability. Little ones are to be taught from the cradle to stifle outbursts of temper and subdue fits of passion. Such parental self-control and early training strengthen children in right principles and help preserve kindness and peace in the home. They also save much parental anxiety and grief. Lack of patience and self-control appears in an easily irritated, jealous response when children are corrected, which harms relationships and can tear down a young church, showing the unrestrained condition of one like a city left broken and without walls.
He that has no rule over his own spirit lacks the self-control that guards conduct and is like a city broken down and without walls, defenseless, unprotected and exposed to attack. Without that inward rule there is no defense against sin and evil, for when God's word and Spirit are not restraining and guiding, human willpower alone cannot resist and overcome evil. True strength of character is rule over one's own spirit, for uncontrolled passion is weakness and greatness is shown in feelings subdued, in restraining anger even when abused and in forgiving enemies. That failure to govern the spirit shows itself especially in hasty, impatient and passionate speech, which is not excused as unguarded and can break hearts, estrange friends and wreck lives with harm that later repentance cannot undo. One who cannot govern his own spirit is not fit to govern or dictate to others, for he cannot judge rightly and without selfishness.
City Without Walls
To have no rule over one's own spirit is to lack the self-control needed to guard conduct, leaving one like a city broken down and without walls. Such a condition is defenseless, unprotected, and exposed to attack, without the protection and security that walls give a city. The failure to govern the spirit is especially seen in hasty, impatient, passionate, harsh, and careless speech, which is not excused by saying the words were unguarded or unintended. Those words can break hearts, estrange friends, and wreck lives, causing lasting harm and damage that later repentance cannot undo. Anger and uncontrolled speech in this state expose a person to sin and Satan's influence, stir up strife, and misrepresent God, so self-control is necessary for a life fit for God's kingdom.
Without such self-rule there is no defense against sin and evil. When God's word and Spirit are rejected, or are not restraining and guiding, the soul's defenses are broken down. Human willpower alone cannot then resist and overcome evil, and a person can sink to great depths. Strength of character is rule over one's own spirit, while uncontrolled passion is weakness and not strength. Greatness is measured by feelings subdued rather than by feelings that master him, shown in restraining anger even when abused and in forgiving enemies.
Ruling the spirit means keeping oneself under discipline, resisting evil, and regulating every word and deed by God's standard of righteousness. One who so rules rises above slights, rebuffs, and daily annoyances, so that they no longer cast a gloom over the spirit. Self-control means ruling the inner life rather than being enslaved by its desires, and young people are to be taught this early. A simple, healthful diet helps prevent cravings for unnatural stimulants. Rule over one's own spirit is temperance carried into all the details of home life, with appetite held under the will and the will governed by calm, intelligent reason. It means eating to live and not living to eat, with the child's will not made law and whims not continually indulged. It is taught by parental example and by enforcing self-denial and self-control from babyhood, teaching little ones from the cradle to stifle outbursts of temper and subdue fits of passion, which saves much parental anxiety and grief.
Speech and Temper
Hasty, impatient, and passionate speech is evidence that the spirit is not governed, for lack of rule over oneself shows itself in the tongue. Such outbursts are not excused by claiming the words were unguarded or unintended. Harsh, careless, hasty and passionate words break hearts, estrange friends, and wreck lives. The harm they do is lasting, and later repentance cannot undo it all.
Anger and uncontrolled speech lay the soul open to sin and to Satan's influence. They stir up strife and misrepresent God, so the control of self is required for a life made fit for God's kingdom. An uncontrolled temper injures personal influence and brings troubles that could have been avoided. Governing the temper and bridling the tongue prevents such conflict, and a well-regulated temper is a benefit to those around.
Loss of self-control can develop under overwork and strain. Then judgment is weakened, and disagreement with plans or questioning of them provokes increased sensitivity and resentment.
Fitness to Govern Others
He who cannot govern his own spirit is not fit to govern or dictate to others. This is especially true before demanding submission from a spouse, for an uncontrolled, changeable temperament exercised in arbitrary authority cannot earn love or respect. For the same reason, those who cannot control their own spirit are unfit to manage religious interests, since without self-rule they cannot judge rightly and without selfishness.
Parents must guard themselves especially when fretful, controlling their words and refusing to burden their children with irritability. Little ones are to be taught from the cradle to stifle outbursts of temper and subdue fits of passion. Such parental self-control and early training strengthen children in right principles and help preserve kindness and peace in the home. They also save much parental anxiety and grief. Lack of patience and self-control appears in an easily irritated, jealous response when children are corrected, which harms relationships and can tear down a young church, showing the unrestrained condition of one like a city left broken and without walls.