# 472 The Proverbs – ‘A manual for living’ (MSG). Proverbs 25 (3) Broken down walls!

Like the need for humility, which has been stressed in chapter 25, is the need for self-control. This too, is taught here in this chapter in a number of verses and then summed up in the last verse with the words:

 ²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken through
    is a person who lacks self-control.

This proverb pictures a city or a house or property with no defence against those who would do harm to the occupants. Such is the life of a person who lacks self-control and so opens themselves up to all sorts of temptation and evil practices.

 In a similar way to verse 28, this chapter “brings a remarkable array of images that drive home the proverb’s points… wisdom calls for the same humble restraint here as previously.” (# 55)

Consider the following:

 ¹⁸ Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
    is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
¹⁹ Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
    is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
²⁰ Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
    or like vinegar poured on a wound,
    is one who sings songs to a heavy heart…

²³ Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
    is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul
    is good news from a distant land.
²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
    are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

The author calls for self-control in a range of different areas of our lives and uses images to help us understand what a lack of self-control in these areas looks like. Such areas as telling the truth – lying is lethal (18), being faithful and reliable – unreliability is painful (19), being discerning and compassionate – the lack of these is distressing (20), being genuine and thoughtful – slyness makes one unpredictable (23), being an encourager (glass half full person)  – discouragement (glass half empty person) is very distasteful ( 25) and being strong in faith and making right decisions and choices – giving in to sin corrupts and destroys self and poisons others (26).

So, self-control is an important lesson to learn, and Proverbs has more to say as follows:

²² An evil man is held captive by his own sins;
    they are ropes that catch and hold him.
²³ He will die for lack of self-control;
    he will be lost because of his great foolishness.  (5:22-23 NLT)

Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. (16:23 NLT)

The New Testament also speaks of the importance of self-control. For example, Paul in Galatians is teaching concerning living free in Christ. He says:

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law [or anything else that enslaves us] … for you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love…   (Galatians 5:1, 13)

He then describes two ways of living. One being when we follow the desires of your sinful nature… [the consequences being that] anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.   The second and preferable by a long way is living by the Spirit [when] the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control… Then we are enabled to follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. (Galatians 5:19, 21, 22-23, 25 NLT).

Nielson concludes, “Self-control is part of the humble restraint called for throughout this chapter [of Proverbs] … [it is a] wisdom [that] has a sound quite different from the voices around us calling us to follow our natural impulses…” (# 55).

But we will leave the last word up to Peter:

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self–control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. (1 Peter 1:13)