Life-giving Relationships: Self-Control

What does self-control look like in everyday relationships?

Sometimes it has less to do with major decisions and more to do with the words that come out of our mouths.

In the final episode of Life-Giving Relationships, Jeff Potts explores the ninth fruit of the Spirit: self-control. Hiking along Corney Brook on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Jeff looks at how uncontrolled anger, spending, ambition and temptation can damage relationships — but focuses especially on one of the most difficult things to control: the tongue.

James compares the tongue to a small spark that can set an entire forest on fire. In the same way, one careless sentence can do real damage to a marriage, friendship, family or workplace relationship. Our words can tear people down, or they can bring healing, encouragement and peace.

So how do we learn to control what we say?

Jeff shares four practical biblical principles:

• Think before you speak
• Always speak the truth
• Speak the truth in love
• Ask Jesus for help every day

Using the simple THINK reminder — Is it truthful? Helpful? Inspirational? Necessary? Kind? — Jeff challenges us to slow down before we speak and consider what our words are about to do in someone else’s life.

But biblical self-control goes deeper than simply watching what we say.

Jesus taught that what comes out of our mouths comes from the heart. That means lasting change isn’t just about trying harder to control our words. We need the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out.

As Jeff puts it, self-control is ultimately about allowing God to have control.

Join us for the final episode of Life-Giving Relationships and discover how the fruit of the Spirit can transform the way we speak, respond and relate to the people around us.