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Science & The Spirit
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TOTALLY TERRIFIC TOPIC
Health Helps Part 8
By Dane and Vicki Griffin
Temperance is certainly not
the sort of word we hear on the six o’clock news. It doesn’t
seem to be an important consideration for holding public office,
either. We don’t see the word in school books, and even
churches aren’t making a fuss over it. Too bad people are
forgetting what a totally terrific topic it really is!
Worth talking about
If you were asked to speak before the President of the United
States, what would you say? What subjects would you emphasize,
and what truths would you consider to be the most important? In
the New Testament, we have a record of just such an interview.
Paul, the great missionary and apostle, was taken before Felix,
the powerful Roman governor. Felix had the power of our
president. Paul was a prisoner whose religious liberty had been
violated. He had been subjected to ridicule, torture, and false
accusations. But he didn’t talk about that. Instead, “he
reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come”
(Acts 24:25).
Paul had only one opportunity to speak with Felix. And in this
one meeting, he chose temperance as one of his subjects!
Apparently the information was powerful enough to cause Felix to
“tremble.” He had to send his prisoner away in order to
restore his “comfort zone.”
What is temperance?
The dictionary defines temperance as “habitual moderation in
the indulgence of the appetites or passions.” The Spirit of
Prophecy puts it this way: “True temperance teaches us to
abstain entirely from that which is injurious, and to use
judiciously only healthful and nutritious articles of food”
(The Health Reformer, April 1, 1877). I like to think of
temperance as God having dominion over the entire lifestyle. In
Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he lists the fruit of the
Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22,
23). Temperance is a fruit of heavenly origin—one that every
true follower of Christ will have in his life.
Like a New Year’s resolution?
We often joke about how New Year’s resolutions never last past
the first few days of commitment. One person pledges never to
drink colas again. Another vows never to eat chocolate at
midnight. Still another decides to go to bed earlier, or drink
more water, or get more exercise. But the only resolution that
most people seem to be able to keep is the resolution not to
make New Year’s resolutions! Many people think of temperance
as something like New Year’s resolutions, and they feel that
any attempts to live more temperately are doomed to fail.
A lot of territory
Do you want temperance in your life? Don’t make a list of
resolutions. Instead, let Christ put His list in your heart!
That’s not to say that we should not note the areas of change
we need—or even write them down. This has its place. But many
people try to “force” themselves to reform in one area or
other of life by a sheer act of the will. They say things like,
“I won’t eat two bags of potato chips at one sitting”; or
“I will quit wasting my time watching soap operas.” They don’t
seem to realize that temperance is a divinely-implanted
principle—something that should affect the whole life.
Temperance is not something you do, it is something you are. It
touches everything—not just potato chips and soap operas!
You are important to God, and He is interested in every part of
your life. Paul understood this when he said, “Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the
glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Part 1
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4
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| 7
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| 11 | 12
| 13 | 14
| 15 | 16
| 17 | 18
| 19 | 20
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