The Virtue of Moderation
The Virtue of Moderation
1 Corinthians 9:27 Keeping ourselves under control mentally, physically, and spiritually prepares us to be more effective in representing Christ.
“but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
1 Corinthians 9:27 NASB1995
When the word temperance is used here in the 21st Century, it brings to mind images of people smashing kegs of whiskey with axes and the “great experiment” of Prohibition in the United States between 1920 and 1933. In the Biblical sense, temperance means moderation or voluntary self-restraint.
Temperance includes not only voluntary self-restraint in use of alcohol, but many other practices as well. For example, restraint from revenge or vengeance happens when one practices forgiveness and non-violence — both virtues exemplified by Jesus. Restraint from arrogance results from practicing humility and modesty and is a sign of temperance, as is restraint from excesses like overindulging in luxury or spending. Practicing calmness and self-control can restrain one from having a “bad temper”, otherwise known as raging or craving.
As one of the seven capital virtues (in this case, the opposite of the sin of gluttony) temperance has a long history in religious thought. It’s also seen as a positive attribute in terms of philosophy and even modern psychology!
Theologian Thomas Aquinas wrote in his Summa Theologica about temperance:
"Temperance, however, considered as a human virtue, deals with the desires of sensible pleasures". What did he mean by “sensible pleasure”? Well, temperance never needs to contradict pleasure in itself, with Aquinas saying “the temperate man does not shun all pleasures, but those that are immoderate, and contrary to reason.” He discussed food and sex, noting that both fulfill human requirements for survival without contradicting the virtue of moderation. Without food, life would cease; without sex, humanity would die out:
"Accordingly, if we take a good, and it be something discerned by the sense of touch, and something pertaining to the upkeep of human life either in the individual or in the species, such as the pleasures of the table or of sexual intercourse, it will belong to the virtue of temperance."
Some may interpret this as meaning that it’s perfectly fine to sin as long as we don’t overdo it, but that’s not what is being said here. If we desire to please God, we’ll stay away from anything that appears to be evil. Today’s verse from 1 Corinthians points out that Paul knew that the power of the flesh could ruin his ministry, so he refused what his flesh craved as a way of developing strength of character.
Being self-indulgent and lazy in one area of our lives can spread to other areas as well. Keeping ourselves under control mentally, physically, and spiritually prepares us to be more effective in representing Christ.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I pray that Your Holy Spirit leads me in the path of self-control and self-discipline. Give me the strength to restrain my actions and words. Be my moral compass, pointing me towards what is right and away from those things that are wrong. Please give me the wisdom to know what is right according to Your Word, not by what the world says is right and good. I pray for Your guidance in my life in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. AMEN.