In a recent Bible study with some really awesome friends, we looked at a verse in Proverbs. It’s one I have most likely read before but it spoke to me in a fresh way this time. And this group of women unpacked it with me and I’d like to share some of what we saw.
Proverbs 25:28 - “Like a city that is broken into and without walls, is a man who has no control over his spirit” Powerful message for sure. But I didn’t realize how rich and deep until we dug into it.
First, let’s talk about what a city is supposed to be, when it is not broken into and without walls. A city - full of life and activity. The walls keep the city secure and enable its people to thrive, to live with confidence and without fear of attack from outside enemies. Purpose, abundance, security, thriving. All made possible because the walls keep the city protected from that which seeks to destroy it.
What about when those walls are broken down? When the security is breached? The people are anxious, fearful, troubled. Living with this distraction means they are unable to live with peace and purpose and abundance. And worse, when attack comes, they are vulnerable to destruction.
That is the picture this proverbs gives us - one of a city without walls, its people vulnerable, fearful, insecure. What about the rest of the verse - a man who has no control over his spirit?
Some translations read “one without self-control” but I believe the NASB gets it right this time and “no control over his spirit” is the better meaning. While self-control is an aspect of the meaning, it is not the foundation.
What do I mean by that?
In the past when I’ve read this verse, I have thought of it only in terms of moral restraint. And it is certainly true that unbridled fleshly desires lead to ruin. But self-control or denial isn’t the totality of meaning. Candidly, that meaning can be easy to dismiss as inapplicable and consequently miss out on the richness of what Scripture says here. The word “control” comes from a word that means “to rule, assemble, enclose, maintain”. And the word for “spirit” means “spirit”, not flesh. So I think the point being made is more about ruling over one’s spirit than restraining our flesh. Self-control - the restraint of our flesh- comes as a fruit of ruling over our spirit. Rather than being the goal, it is a byproduct.
When we fail to rule over our spirit, we are like that city described in the verse. We are vulnerable to attack. It leaves us insecure, not flourishing, anxious. Left in this state long enough, we are eventually conquered and devastated. In some form or another - emotional, physical, mental, spiritual - the destruction comes.
So that raises the question - what does it look like to have control over our spirit? To “rule” over it?
I think this Old Testament proverb finds its solution in a New Testament passage: John 14&15. The gist of these verses can be summed up in chapter 15, verses 5 and 6 - I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit for apart from me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up, and they gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
To have control over my spirit - and therefore to avoid the warning of destruction - means that I abide in Christ. I am conscious of my desperate and ever-present need for Him to fill me, guide me, control me. I am continuously aware that if I don’t abide in Him, I will be open to attack of all kinds - the enemy figures out where I am most susceptible and that is where he seeks to breach. Not abiding in Him leaves me not only anxious or insecure but also drives me to seek some sort of (false) security elsewhere. This will never result in abundant life.
Practically speaking, abiding in Him means that I keep my focus on God’s love and provision for me all throughout the day. I turn my spirit towards His Throne over and over and over, all day long. Specifically, it means that my thoughts are submitted to HIS control. I increasingly recognize even subtle temptations to “stress” (i.e. worry) or indulge my flesh (either with comfort or food) and I respond with taking control of my thoughts, submitting them to His obedience. Instead of being impressed with some sense of my own ability, I recognize that He is magnetically drawn to my realization of my weakness. That repeated acknowledgement of my need allows Him to control me - and that is the ultimate fortress! That is where security is found. That is the place of thriving and abundance and peace.
That “control” - being under HIS control - then results in self-control of my flesh, and the other things listed in Galatians 5 - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and faithfulness.
Amen.