THE BATTLE WITHIN

Proverbs 16.32
THE BATTLE WITHIN
"Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city." (v32)

BY THE EARLY FOURTH CENTURY OF THE Christian era, the church was no longer persecuted. In fact, she had become accepted and even popular. Christians became laxed and worldly. At that time, the first monks appeared. They retreated into the deserts of Egypt and Syria, and spent years in prayer, fasting and meditation. Though they sometimes went to extremes in self-deprivation, they were right about one thing. They recognized the real place of spiritual battle — within their own souls.

A warrior may take a city, and thinks he has won a victory. But unless he conquers himself, he has lost. For, in another proverb, Solomon warns, "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control" (25.28). Walls are built for defence, and broken walls spell danger and disgrace. The picture is poignant. It is like a general who goes to war and breaches his enemy's fortification only to return home to find his own country overthrown and in ruins.

Fighting battles elsewhere is always easier than confronting the self in one's own backyard. Nothing is more difficult to conquer than our own impatience and temper. Some give the excuse that they are born with a choleric temperament and therefore they have a right to tantrums. If every person were to live out his temperament regardless of the consequences, the world would be a most frightening place!

Temper is neither irresistible nor incorrigible. It can be restrained and it can be corrected. Like all sins, it arises from the pride of the sinful human heart. Unless the heart is humbled, anger will destroy all the walls within and without. But no one can conquer his inner self alone. He has to be conquered first by Christ. Only in surrender to the Lord of lords and King of kings can we rise in triumph.

We throw tantrums only when we think we are in charge. So children in particular have no hesitation in making a scene with their anger. That is because in their immaturity they suppose everyone else is there to serve their needs. However, when we submit ourselves to the Lord, we recognise we are no longer king. In the presence of someone greater than we are, we would think twice about recklessly letting our anger loose.

The dying emperor Valentinian said, "Among all my conquests, there is but one that now comforts me. I have overcome my worst enemy, my own haughty heart." So the battle is first and last within us.

Am I a victor first in the battle within?