Temperance

Temperance was one of the attributes which was especially highly esteemed in old Grecian ethics. For the Greek a well-balanced life was very important. Solon said, “in nothing too much.” Aristotle called it “the exact center,” that is, neither too much to the left nor to the right. In Christian ethics temperance does not take such an important place anymore, although God’s Word emphasizes it many times as a necessary fruit of faith in the life of God’s children.

For many it has become an old-fashioned thought to be temperate. “Why should we stay in bondage?” they say. “We live in a time of great prosperity. Most people have sufficient money to spend. So if we can enjoy this or that, then we should do it because we are young only once; or, we only live once.” Politicians promise that things will become better, that there will be prosperity and spare time so we will be able to “really live” and satisfy all our desires.

Those desires are easily awakened in us by all the advertising we see every day. Because of this influence we think we cannot live without a car, we cannot miss a TV, we must take vacations and see foreign countries. Many desirable things for our flesh are set before us and our heart longs for all these things.

Probably you will say that I am overemphasizing this, because there is still some temperance. We hear of some young people who live very moderately. But many of these are living this way only to be physically fit for sports, and not because of God’s Word. Humanly speaking, I believe that we must exer-cise self-control and not live to the full, as it happens so often today. But understand, this is not the temperance which the Lord requires from us. Why should we live soberly as the Lord says in His Word? Man was created after the image of God to live to His honor; therefore, we should live for the Lord and not only for ourselves. That was the purpose of creation, which we have not fulfilled. We are surrounded by many temptations. The Apostle John in his old age has warned us: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” The Lord Jesus said that we should pluck out our eye if it is a hindrance to God’s service (Matt. 5:29).

All what we have said thus far does not mean that we have to live asceti-cally. We do not have to torment our bodies with self-made chastisements. We cannot live outside of this world either. God gave us a place in this world and we must go through it, but must live separated from this world, which is not an easy task. Surely we may enjoy the blessings which we receive, but that enjoyment may not become a hindrance to the service of God. We cannot serve God and mammon.

The Lord asks temperance in all things. When Paul, as a prisoner, stood before Felix with Drusilla he also spoke of temperance. This word we commonly use to denote moderation or restraint in regard to eating and drinking. But here it denotes a restraint of all passions and evil inclinations. The particular thing in the life of Felix which Paul probably had in view was that this man lived in adultery with Drusilla. Paul wished to bring him to repentance before the Lord.

How necessary it is that with help from on high we try to exercise temperance also in our lives. Every day we should ask the Lord, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” We will not go into detail at this time in regard to all these temptations. To live temperately is required by the Lord and is good for us, both in body and soul.

If it pleases the Lord to look upon us in mercy, then we begin to realize how excessive our desires have been. From that moment on we desire to live for the Lord and that our bodies may also become temples of the Holy Ghost. He alone leads us in all truth. We should not look upon God’s people as being perfect. No, not at all; they have but a small beginning in this life of the obedience which the Lord requires of them, and it becomes their desire that all sin shall be rooted up in their life. The Spirit does not only show how miserable we are, but at God’s time He will also show the overflowing fullness in Jesus Christ for a needy sinner who cries out, “Have mercy upon me, a sinner.”

Prayer Before Worship

(Isaiah 55:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:1)

Thy presence, gracious God, afford;
Prepare us to receive Thy word;
Now let Thy voice engage our ear,
And faith be mixed with what we hear;
Thus, Lord, Thy waiting servants bless,
And crown Thy gospel with success.

Distracting thoughts and cares remove,
And fix our hearts and hopes above;
With food divine may we be fed,
And satisfied with living bread.
Thus, Lord, Thy waiting servants bless,
And crown Thy gospel with success.

To us the sacred word apply,
With sovereign power and energy;
And may we, in Thy faith and fear,
Reduce to practice what we hear.
Thus, Lord, Thy waiting servants bless,
And crown Thy gospel with success.

Father, in us Thy Son reveal;
Teach us to know and do Thy will;
Thy saving power and love display,
And guide us to the realms of day.
Thus, Lord, Thy waiting servants bless,
And crown Thy gospel with success.

Rev. A.M. Den Boer is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of unnyside, Washington.

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