Managing Yourself

by Roy Dickson, Buckhaven, Scotland | Category: The Disciple Life | Oct 1990

Surely one of the most startling truths about the Christian life is that "Ye are not your own" (1 Cor. 6:19). Nevertheless it is so. God forgives us our sins on our putting faith in His Son and the redeeming blood of His Cross.

This is the price He paid that we might be loosed from our sins. We have been purchased and we belong to Him by a wonderful transaction of love. Now the Lord did not only purchase our souls for eternity, He also purchased our lives here and now. He gave us His Holy Spirit to indwell our bodies, so we are urged to "glorify God therefore in your body" (1 Cor. 6:20).

As disciples of the Lord Jesus we should not be simply pleasing ourselves for the reason that we do not own ourselves. Another does, and on being baptized as believers, we declare that we are now "dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus" (1:om. 6:11).

The challenge comes in the daily Christian walk. Self-management is not automatic. The Christian disciple is a steward taking care of something on behalf of the true owner. That simply means that we are stewards of our lives on behalf of the Lord Jesus, and He requires us to manage our lives accordingly for His sake.

The Lord Himself is our Example, for "Christ also pleased not Himself" (Rom. 15:3). So we should not allow self-interest to hijack our life for the Lord. Today's philosophy is to "do your own thing". The very thought of self-denial or of obligation to another would in many circles be laughable. The Christian is unquestionably at odds with the spirit of the age, for he or she belongs to a different Master.

Self-denial and self-discipline are outdated concepts in western society, but the Scriptures clearly point us this way if we are to serve the Lord acceptably. We should learn from Him who pleased His Father in all things. Daily He drove Himself on, He communed with His Father, He was ceaseless in good works, and whether as a Servant or as the Master He was always in control, managing Himself for the great purpose for which He came.

Now such self-management does not just happen of its own accord in us. The disciple must be wary of dangers and seek the Holy Spirit's help at every step. Even Paul did not find it easy, but he managed himself so that he might run the race to the end and gain the incorruptible crown. "But I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage" (1 Cor. 9:27). Let us consider some areas of Christian

stewardship in our lives.

Our Gifts

On being indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the moment of receiving Christ, the Spirit graciously gives us a gift and it is our responsibility to foster and to use it correctly to God's glory (1 Cor. 12:7,11). Our talent or gift is not for random use, or abuse, or for that matter, no use. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 shows the faithless servant as the one who hid his talent, and no profit accrued to His master's benefit. The same will he true if the Christian fails to exercise his or her gift to God's glory.

What might this gift be? Too often it may be associated with some form of public ministry, whereas the spiritual talent may be simply the encouraging of others, the word of kindness, teaching the young, hospitality, or the individual testimony of the Christian. Knowing our talent is not enough in itself; it should be managed and returned to God with interest. Know your gift, and exercise it in accordance with God's Word.

Our Time

Surely, this is the consumer of our great intentions. Equally, so often it seems like something to be filled and used up. The Christian watchword is to be vigilant and not to take it easy, or to assume that we will have plenty of time tomorrow. "Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Prov. 27:1). We all know the problem of the clash of interests within a limited timespan. Pressure of work, or study, domestic chores, desire for some time of relaxation, friendships, travelling, and added to all this somehow we need to squeeze in attendance at the meetings of the church! What about our private prayer and reading times too? In the high pressure society we five in, something has to give. What is it for you? Is it the things of God that give? They shouldn't, yet so often this can be the easy option. Here is where we can learn from the self-discipline of the Lord. In Mark 1:32-34 we see how He healed the sick long into the evening, yet in verse 35:

And in the morning. a great while before day, He rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place. and there prayed.

How early did He get up? How far did He travel to be alone with His Father? How tired was He? How mach private prayer have I made today, or this week? Has my private prayer been genuine communion with God, or "putting in my five minutes"?

We are all guilty of misusing time, perhaps by squandering all of our spare time, or by packing the day so full of activity that there is nothing left over for the Lord. Beware of both pitfalls! "I am too busy to pray, read, attend the church meetings", means you need to pray, read and attend the meetings! There is nothing wrong with spare time interests, but let us keep them in proportion to our time with the Lord. The real answer is the close walk with the Lord, founded on love, His Word abiding in us (John 14:23). If our heart and mind are set on Him, then we will not let time rule us, but we will use it to His glory.

Our Money

The same principle applies. The story of the widow's mite in Mark l2:4l~ makes it clear that God does not look at the amount of money given, but at the exercise of heart, and the degree of self-sacrifice involved. As saints in the Churches of God we have a duty of love towards the work of the Lord, and towards those who have given themselves to the Lord's work. Our givings are vital, but it is this spirit of willing-heartedness which the Lord looks for. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. Cheerful giving is surely what counts. Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:3 explains, "If I bestow all my goods to feed the poor... but have not love, it profiteth me nothing". Give with love.

Should we tithe, that is, follow the practice under the law of Moses of giving at least one tenth part of our income to the Lord? For disciples today under grace, we are not obliged to follow this practice (Rom. 6:14; Acts 15:24-29), and whether we are able to give more or less than a tenth of our earnings, our givings should be love gifts to the Lord. God's work, however, requires increasing financial resources for all of its many activities, and we should carefully examine our hearts as to whether we are merely giving of our superfluity, or giving to the point of us feeling the effect. We must, of course, pay our bills and feed our families. But can other luxuries wait, or do we need them at all? Is the Lord's work faltering? Are we remembering those in full time service, and their families? Let's bring this matter before the Lord,

Our bodies and minds

Daniel is an excellent example of a man who managed himself in the face of pressure to do what was the in thing. He did not do so in a self-righteous manner, but with resolve founded upon love of God and with simple dignity. When he was expected to eat of the king's table, he "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself' (Dan. 1:8). His self-management began inside, and from this determination he acted, in this case it was not to do something. Later, when Darius signed the interdict against prayer, Daniel, knowing this to be so, continued to pray to God three times a day (Dan. 6:10). In this case he continued to do something - pray to his God. His routine of regular prayer was not a sham but a discipline of heart and mind visibly carried out.

What we do should come from our heart, and our innermost thoughts should be reflected in our actions. With Daniel there was no division. To manage our bodies we first need to discipline our minds - what we think about, what we watch, listen to and talk about. The line of the chorus is very apt:

Watch your eyes, ears, lips, hands and feet.

We all have to hang our heads in shame at past failures, but forgiveness is only a prayer away. The Lord is looking for a real turning away from the old things and a positive turning towards the things which are pleasing to Him.

The Christian who manages himself or herself well is the Christian who dies to self and lives for Christ, who puts to death the thoughts of the flesh and cultivates what is pure. Colossians 3:5 describes the putting to death of the old: "Mortify therefore your members...", whereas Philippians 4:8 describes the cultivating of the new: "whatsoever things are true honourable ... just ... pure ... lovely... of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things".

The way we have committed ourselves to walking is opposed to our old nature. To walk steadily along the way, self must die, and He must live in me.

Roy Dickson, Buckhaven, Scotland | Oct 1990
The Disciple Life