43- Among his qualities: Self-control

 

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One of the main qualities of the spiritual man is “self-control”.

He does not submit himself to the lust of the flesh and its desires, but whenever he longs for a sinful desire, he controls himself firmly, to the leading of the spirit. And as the Holy Bible says:

“He who rules his spirit (is better) than he who takes a city” (Prov 16:32).

Rules or controls himself means not to give it all that it asks for, but stands against it, according to the Lord’s saying: “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep for eternal life” (Jn 12:25).

There is no doubt that self-control consists of many elements:

1. Tongue-control.

2. Thought-control.

3. Heart-control, by controlling desires and lusts.

4. Sense-control.

5. Belly-control, concerning food.

The one who rules himself makes it submit to values and principles, regulations and rules. Because whoever does not rule himself is in fact surrendering it to loss...

The one who controls himself loves it the true love...

Because the one who pampers himself loses it and makes others get lost with it. As for the one who is firm with himself, he saves it by this firmness and also saves others from it and keeps it on good terms with God... He organizes his concern and his relation as such: God first, people second then himself last...

Joy

The Spiritual Man Books by H. H. Pope Shenouda III

Tongue-control