Faith

The devil is not the nature that is around us, but the nature that is within us.

Every set of temptations that we face deal not with questions of self-control, but questions of faith and trust. We choose not to eat 35 hot wings, 2 large pizzas, and wash it all down with a 64 ounce banocolate (that's chocolate and banana mix, by the way) milkshake, because we have faith that the satisfaction we get from not gaining weight will be more than the satisfaction of flavor. It all comes down to economics. The whole argument between self-control and faith, hinges on an idea based in economics. There is a term thrown around in economics called "Opportunity Cost", which is the cost of the highest priced alternative you give up when choosing something else. For example, the opportunity cost of going to college, is the amount of money you would have gained working during the time you spend in the classroom or studying. However, many people would argue that the money you gain in the long run, from having a college education, is higher than its opportunity cost.

Throughout the Bible, God makes several promises to mankind. He puts limits on desires that He, Himself, coded into our DNA. Many of us, myself included, have often looked at these limits or rules, as a test of our self-control, but a simple investigation will prove this might not be true. If God was just trying to test our self-control, why would He spend so much time making rational limits? Why would God not just choose random things, such as: do not scratch your nose or only clean your house on odd days or don't laugh at things that are funny. All of those would be pretty good tests of self-control, because it's hard for me not to scratch my nose, even when it doesn't itch. If God was only interested in getting us to have more self-control, why give us promises like, "if you do sex my way, it will be more fulfilling" or "if you put barriers around your temper, I am full of justice"? God wants us to put our faith in Him, and not ourselves.

He wants us to have faith that the satisfaction from the promises He gives, will outweigh the opportunity cost. We are so impatient and untrusting, that we want to decide when we get our reward. Someone wrongs me, and it's hard to trust that one day God will make all things right. So, I choose to start a nasty rumor or lash out in anger against the one who harms me. I have a desire for intimacy, but I refuse to believe in God's promise of sex. So, I choose to lust, look at pornography, or engage in pre-marital sexual activity. Self-control is a tool to get what you want, but the problem is, we do not believe that God will provide what we want. It becomes easier to control yourself, when you truly believe that what is waiting for you, is better than what you have. When you believe that God's promises hold more value than the opportunity cost of your sin.

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Pray
That God will help you begin to start trusting in His promises, instead of your own ability to get what you want.