I was reading The Courier Journal (Louisville newspaper) this morning, and there was an article about a University Louisville Psychology professor by the name of Walter Mischel. He won the Grawenmeyer award and $100,000, for his life-long studies on "Delayed Gratification" and utilizing "Willpower" to its max.
I know nothing about this gentleman, or his work for that matter. I do not know if he is coming at this from a secular or Christian angle. However, it has got me thinking most of the day about "Self-Control."
We live in a society that is saturated with Instant Gratification. If it feels good, the world says to go ahead and do it. This is why we are in the state that we are in today from a socio-economic standard, spiritually, financially, sexually, obesity, and the list goes on and on...
I am not sure that Delayed Gratification, and Self-Control are necessarily one in the same. I think it is possible to delay ones gratification to a later date, but not necessarily exercise self-control at that point in time. I also feel that chocking it all up to Willpower, could quite possibly admit that the power is somehow within us, when the Bible plainly teaches that we are to submit to His Holy Spirit.
Never the less, I am not going to try and split an atom with intentions of definition. Point being that Delayed Gratification, Self Control, and Willpower are all three things that we could be well served to have more of in our lives. All through Psalms, Proverbs, Acts, Corinthians, Galations, Timothy, and Titus, the Bible stresses Self Control. We are to take control of ourselves, and not gratify the flesh at every whim.
When I was trying to find a picture to attach to this Blog, I typed in: "Self Control," then "Delayed Gratification." and finally "Willpower" in Google Images. I was overwhelmingly amazed at the two themes that seemed to jump off the page. They were without doubt: 1) SEX & 2) FOOD. This should not be too surprising as the Bible talks repeatedly about the dangers of indulging oneself.
I can't help but think of how much better off as a society we would be if we exercised a little self control. So back to the title, is it overrated? Of course not. It is unfortunately not spoken of much in this fast food society that we live in. If you are too tired to cook, just go through McDonald's drive-thru. Of course if you are too tired to cook, then obviously you are going to be too tired to exercise and burn off the almost 1,000 calories you just inhaled down your gullet. If you want to sexually gratify yourself, the world has taught that we should do what makes us happy. Even if this means viewing pornography on the internet, having pre or extramarital relations, or just simply getting divorced. I can't tell you how many times I have heard people give horrible advice to a person to get divorced, so it would make them happy in the here and now.
The challenge is that we all could use a little Self Control in our lives. It is not about feeding and instantly gratifying the flesh. There is an element of willpower that we have to have in order to be determined not to do certain things. However, let us never diminish the Power of Jesus in a person's life. He is just waiting to give you the balance you need, if you surrender and turn your life completely over to Him...
I know nothing about this gentleman, or his work for that matter. I do not know if he is coming at this from a secular or Christian angle. However, it has got me thinking most of the day about "Self-Control."
We live in a society that is saturated with Instant Gratification. If it feels good, the world says to go ahead and do it. This is why we are in the state that we are in today from a socio-economic standard, spiritually, financially, sexually, obesity, and the list goes on and on...
I am not sure that Delayed Gratification, and Self-Control are necessarily one in the same. I think it is possible to delay ones gratification to a later date, but not necessarily exercise self-control at that point in time. I also feel that chocking it all up to Willpower, could quite possibly admit that the power is somehow within us, when the Bible plainly teaches that we are to submit to His Holy Spirit.
Never the less, I am not going to try and split an atom with intentions of definition. Point being that Delayed Gratification, Self Control, and Willpower are all three things that we could be well served to have more of in our lives. All through Psalms, Proverbs, Acts, Corinthians, Galations, Timothy, and Titus, the Bible stresses Self Control. We are to take control of ourselves, and not gratify the flesh at every whim.
When I was trying to find a picture to attach to this Blog, I typed in: "Self Control," then "Delayed Gratification." and finally "Willpower" in Google Images. I was overwhelmingly amazed at the two themes that seemed to jump off the page. They were without doubt: 1) SEX & 2) FOOD. This should not be too surprising as the Bible talks repeatedly about the dangers of indulging oneself.
I can't help but think of how much better off as a society we would be if we exercised a little self control. So back to the title, is it overrated? Of course not. It is unfortunately not spoken of much in this fast food society that we live in. If you are too tired to cook, just go through McDonald's drive-thru. Of course if you are too tired to cook, then obviously you are going to be too tired to exercise and burn off the almost 1,000 calories you just inhaled down your gullet. If you want to sexually gratify yourself, the world has taught that we should do what makes us happy. Even if this means viewing pornography on the internet, having pre or extramarital relations, or just simply getting divorced. I can't tell you how many times I have heard people give horrible advice to a person to get divorced, so it would make them happy in the here and now.
The challenge is that we all could use a little Self Control in our lives. It is not about feeding and instantly gratifying the flesh. There is an element of willpower that we have to have in order to be determined not to do certain things. However, let us never diminish the Power of Jesus in a person's life. He is just waiting to give you the balance you need, if you surrender and turn your life completely over to Him...
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