Proverbs 25:28 – self-control is the greatest of all victories

The verse we are considering in this article comes from the book of Proverbs at chapter 25 and verse 28.

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

This verse is talking about self-control. It is talking about us controlling ourselves and our emotions.

When we practice self-control, we do so by limiting and restraining those things which are in opposition to what God requires.

The different aspect of self control

Self-control in a person can take many forms. In other words, self-control will be shown in different ways for each individual person. For example:

1. If someone does something bad to you – some people may want to get even with that person by abusing them or hitting them. The person needs to exercise self-control by restraining themselves.

2. If you like beer – you may be tempted to drink a lot of it and become drunk. By exercising self-control you will only drink alcohol in moderation.

3. If you enjoy food – some people will keep on eating it beyond what is healthy. These people need to show restraint in the amount of food they eat – they need self-control.

Self-control requires us to think about our behaviour and then control it, if it is not what God would want from us.

Some people get angry very quickly if something happens that they do not agree with. If you lose your temper, it means you become so angry that you shout at someone or show in some other way that you are no longer in control of yourself. They lose their self-control. This sort of behaviour is not what God wants from us and would be classified as a sin. God does not want us to lose self-control and become angry. He wants us to stay calm.

A city without walls

When we come back to the verse we are considering in this article it says:

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

This verse is not only talking about self-control but it also mentions cities and walls. So what is that all about?

In the past whole cities would be protected by high walls being built around them. You would see large defensive walls built around the city which protected the people living inside. When enemy armies attacked the people they would run inside the walls and they would close the gates. This hopefully would keep them safe from the invading soldiers. If the walls were knocked down then the enemy would come into the city and kill or take captive the people.  The enemy would conquer the city.

In the verse we are considering it is saying losing self-control is like a city having its walls knocked down. Just as a city with broken down walls could be easily conquered by its enemies, so is man or woman who has no control over their behaviour. They are easily conquered by sin. If they cannot control themselves then it will restrict their work for God.

Ruling the spirit

Proverbs chapter 16 and verse 32 discusses this further:

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

When it says in that verse “rules his spirit” it is just another way of saying “having self-control”.  It is saying that self-control is the greatest of all victories.  It is saying that some men showed how mighty they were when they took control of whole kingdoms.  Yet these same men were defeated in their efforts to control themselves. God is saying they are in fact weak men and not mighty if they cannot control themselves. If someone has a bad temper then this suggests they have pride and impatience.

There are plenty of examples in the Bible of people who had self-control and could rule their spirit. David remained calm when he was cursed. Nehemiah showed that he could rule his spirit when his enemy sneered at him and attempted to destroy him.

But there are also examples of those who had very little self-control. Samson is an example of one who did not have self-control when it came to Philistine women.  

The fruits of the spirit

God encourages each one of us to exercise self-control in all the things we do. It is so important that it is one of nine fruits of the spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Galatians Ch.5:22-23  NIV

For more on fruits of the Spirit refer to the article “9 fruits of the Spirit” on this website (Category: Lists in the Bible).

All people must show self-control but especially the elder who others look to as an example:

Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.  1 Timothy Ch.3:2-3  NIV

Let us all develop the characteristic of self-control.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;   1 Peter Ch.1:5-6  NIV