Proverbs 25:28
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He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
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A man's spirit is his inner self, which seeks to control his actions. When this spirit is not ruled by the mind, it leaves him exposed and vulnerable to all sorts of folly and trouble. Like a defenseless city without walls in former times of marauding armies, so is the man who does not rule his own spirit and keep it in the path of wisdom and holiness.
The spirit of a man includes his affections, appetites, and passions. A wise and noble man rules his spirit by his conscience and mind. He binds it with chains of self-denial to keep ambition, anger, lust, pride, or revenge from breaking forth. He guides it by a mental commitment to hold fast honor, humility, righteousness, and virtue. He has the rule of his thoughts, his desires, his inclinations, his resentments, and keeps them all in good order.
If a foolish man, he lets his spirit control his actions. He does not resist it; he lets it direct him; he forfeits the fight of character and godliness. He cannot do what he should; and he cannot resist what he should not. We find such men insanely angry, idiotically foolish, destructively depressed, or perpetually procrastinating, among other faults and sins. They never grow up, for they are always controlled by childish passions of a depraved heart.
In Solomon's time, a city depended on strong fortifications and gates, with great walls surrounding it, to repel incursions by ravaging bands of guerillas or foreign armies. If the bulwarks, gates, or towers were broken down and the walls taken away, a city was totally exposed to the incursions of any enemy, who wished to plunder, pillage, or conquer it.
A man without rule of his spirit is exposed and vulnerable like a defenseless city. His spirit is ready to sin with very little provocation, and he cannot marshal its power for any good. He is helplessly, hopelessly, perpetually at the mercy of his enemies - foolishness, lust, and sin - which show no quarter, but regularly ravage his life! But the man who rules his spirit is greater than a man taking a city single-handedly (16:32). Lord, help us!
Dear reader, what tempts your spirit? Are you quick to anger, a sure mark of a fool? Must your tongue wag incessantly, another mark of a fool? Regarding money, are you an impulsive spender? Or a hoarding miser? Do you justify imprudent haste as optimism? Or do you call melancholy funks self-reflection? Which spirit do you have? Do you rule it? To the bulwarks! Raise the towers! Close the gates! Build the walls! Rule your spirit!
Do you talk too much? Or are you depressed and silent? Do you pursue financial choices imprudently? Or do you criticize everyone? Do you jest and joke often? Does complaining come easily? Do you eat more than you should? Do you fail to read and pray daily? Do you let being cast down destroy you? Does fear keep you from your duties?
Your life will be plundered and wasted, unless you take control and raise a defense. You will make shipwreck, for an unruly spirit does not work the righteousness of God (Jas 1:28; 4:5). You will plunge into sins of commission or omission. To the bulwarks! Raise the towers! Close the gates! Build the walls! Rule your spirit!
The greatest battle any man will fight is the one against his own spirit! Your worst enemy is the depraved and selfish man within! It causes the most damage and keeps you from successful living. The most shameful loss is to live and die the victim of your own unruly spirit. And the most noble and rewarding victory is the one over your own spirit.
Saul did not rule his jealous spirit, which viciously sought to kill his own son (I Sam 20:27-34). David had not bridled his lustful spirit, which blindly led to adultery and murder (II Sam 11:1-27). And Samson, the strongest man ever, was helpless before his unruled passion for beautiful Delilah (Judges 16:4-21). Dear reader, do not let these heinous crimes bolster your self-righteousness, for many lesser sins can also ruin a life!
Identify your spirit weakness - every man has one or more. Confess its folly to the Lord. Confess its folly to your family or friends. Ask them to tell you when they see a breach in a wall. Take charge of your spirit, and crush whatever folly it seeks, and do whatever wisdom it avoids! Now!
At the first sign of a bulwark or tower crumbling, pray for the essential strength of your Prince. Do not trust your own strength; you need His! You cannot relax, for it will take control unless you rule it. By the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ you can rule it, why wait one minute longer? Go to Him now! Raise the walls of a well-ruled and holy city!
Our blessed Lord ruled His spirit and submitted to His Father's will, in spite of being sore amazed and very heavy at the prospect of His crucifixion (Mark 14:33). But not only that, He will provide grace and strength for those who ask (II Cor 12:9-10; Phil 4:13).
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