The Foundation of Self-Control

Temperance is the practice of self-control and moderation in all areas of life. It means completely abstaining from that which is harmful and using in moderation that which is good. This principle is fundamental to health, as excess—even of good things—can be harmful, while indulgence in harmful substances damages both body and soul.

In our modern world filled with temptations and instant gratification, temperance has become more important than ever. The ability to exercise self-control distinguishes those who honor God with their bodies from those who live according to the flesh. Temperance is not merely about restriction; it's about freedom—freedom from the bondage of harmful habits and addictions that enslave both body and mind.

True temperance involves a balanced approach to life. It means neither excess nor deprivation, but rather wise stewardship of the body God has given us. It requires wisdom to discern what is beneficial and discipline to choose what is right, even when faced with powerful cravings or social pressure.

Abstinence from Harmful Substances

True temperance requires complete abstinence from substances that harm the body and cloud the mind. There is no safe level of consumption for truly harmful substances—they should be avoided entirely.

Alcohol

The Bible consistently warns against alcohol consumption. Proverbs 20:1 declares: "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." This ancient wisdom has been confirmed by modern medical research showing that alcohol causes more than 200 diseases and health conditions.

Even moderate drinking carries risks. No amount of alcohol has been proven safe for overall health. The World Health Organization states that no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health, contradicting previous claims about "moderate drinking." Alcohol affects every organ system and is particularly damaging to developing brains in children and adolescents.

Proverbs 23:29-35 provides a vivid description of alcohol's effects: wounds, sorrow, contentions, redness of eyes, and ultimately, being bitten like a serpent. This poetic language accurately describes the progression of alcohol abuse—from social drinking to addiction, from pleasure to pain.

Tobacco and Smoking

Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide. Smoking kills more than 8 million people annually, including over 1 million from secondhand smoke exposure. Despite overwhelming evidence of its harm, tobacco addiction remains a major public health crisis.

The body is God's temple, and introducing toxic smoke into this temple is a direct violation of the principle to honor God with our bodies. Every cigarette contains over 7,000 chemicals, hundreds of which are toxic and about 70 that cause cancer. There is no such thing as a "safe" cigarette or smoking level.

Beyond personal health, smoking affects others through secondhand smoke, which is particularly harmful to children. Christian temperance means not only avoiding personal harm but also protecting others from the consequences of our choices.

Illicit Drugs

The use of recreational drugs—including marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and synthetic drugs—is fundamentally incompatible with Christian temperance. These substances alter consciousness, impair judgment, damage the brain and body, and create powerful addictions that enslave users.

Drug abuse leads to mental illness, physical deterioration, broken families, criminal behavior, and spiritual darkness. The immediate "high" sought by users is followed by devastating lows—depression, paranoia, health crises, and often death. No momentary pleasure is worth the destruction these substances bring.

The Bible calls us to be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). Drug use makes this impossible, as it clouds judgment, weakens willpower, and opens the door to spiritual deception. God desires us to have clear minds so we can understand His will and make wise decisions.

Coffee, Tea, and Caffeine

Coffee and tea should be completely avoided, not simply moderated. These beverages contain caffeine—a habit-forming drug that stimulates the nervous system artificially. While many consider their morning coffee essential, this dependency itself reveals the enslaving nature of these drinks.

True vitality comes from proper rest, nutrition, exercise, and trust in God—not from artificial stimulation. The temporary "boost" from caffeine is actually borrowed energy that must be repaid with interest, leaving the body more depleted than before. This creates a vicious cycle where more caffeine is needed to overcome the fatigue caused by previous consumption.

Beyond the physical effects, caffeinated beverages dull spiritual sensitivity. The overstimulated nervous system is less receptive to the quiet promptings of the Holy Spirit. Clear thinking and spiritual discernment require a calm, well-rested mind—not one artificially stimulated by drugs.

When transitioning away from coffee and tea, some may experience temporary withdrawal symptoms such as headaches or fatigue. These symptoms typically last only a few days and prove the addictive nature of these beverages. Push through this brief discomfort—the freedom and clarity on the other side are worth it.

During the transition period: drink plenty of water to help flush caffeine from your system, get extra rest as your body adjusts, use natural energy boosters like exercise and fresh air, and pray for strength to overcome the habit. Remember, thousands have successfully broken free from caffeine dependence—you can too with God's help.

Ellen G. White's Counsel on Coffee and Tea

Ellen G. White, a health reformer and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, received divine counsel on healthful living over 150 years ago. Her warnings about coffee and tea have been validated by modern medical research. Here are some of her key statements:

On the Addictive Nature of Coffee and Tea

Ellen White recognized that coffee and tea create dependency similar to other addictive substances:

"Those who use these slow poisons [tea and coffee], like the tobacco user, think they cannot live without them, because they feel so very bad when they do not have these idols."

"In some cases it is as difficult to break up the tea-and-coffee habit as it is for the inebriate to discontinue the use of liquor."

On the Physical Effects

"Those who resort to tea and coffee for stimulation to labor, will feel the evil effects of this course in trembling nerves and lack of self-control. Tired nerves need rest and quiet. Nature needs time to recuperate her exhausted energies."

"Tea and coffee do not nourish the system. The relief obtained from them is sudden, before the stomach has time to digest them. This shows that what the users of these stimulants call strength is only received by exciting the nerves of the stomach, which convey the irritation to the brain, and this in turn is aroused to impart increased action to the heart and short-lived energy to the entire system. All this is false strength that we are the worse for having."

On the Spiritual Impact

"Tea and coffee drinking is a sin, an injurious indulgence, which, like other evils, injures the soul."

"The stimulating diet and drink of this day are not conducive to the best state of health. Tea, coffee, and tobacco are all stimulating, and contain poisons. They are not only unnecessary, but harmful, and should be discarded if we would add to knowledge, temperance."

On Coffee Being Worse Than Tea

"The influence of coffee is in a degree the same as tea, but the effect upon the system is still worse. Its influence is exciting, and just in the degree that it elevates above par it will exhaust and bring prostration below par. Tea and coffee drinkers carry the marks upon their faces. The glow of health is not seen upon the countenance."

Moderation in Good Things

Temperance is not only about avoiding the bad—it's also about moderating the good. Even healthy, God-given things can become harmful when used in excess.

Food and Eating

Overeating, even of healthy foods, strains the digestive system, leads to obesity, and increases risk of chronic diseases. The stomach can only efficiently process a certain amount of food at one time. Overloading it causes fermentation, discomfort, and poor nutrient absorption.

Gluttony—the sin of excessive eating—is repeatedly condemned in Scripture alongside drunkenness. Proverbs 23:2 advises: "Put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite." This strong language emphasizes the seriousness of this issue.

True temperance in eating means: eating only when genuinely hungry, stopping when satisfied (not stuffed), choosing nutritious foods in appropriate portions, avoiding eating late at night, and being mindful of emotional eating triggers.

Work and Rest

While work is honorable and necessary, overwork damages health and relationships. Workaholism is a form of intemperance that leads to burnout, stress-related illnesses, family breakdown, and spiritual neglect. God Himself modeled the importance of rest by resting on the seventh day of creation.

True temperance in work means: setting appropriate boundaries on work hours, taking regular breaks and vacations, prioritizing family and spiritual life over career advancement, and learning to say no to excessive demands.

Exercise

Exercise is essential for health, but excessive exercise can cause injuries, hormonal imbalances, weakened immune function, and psychological problems. Some people become addicted to exercise, experiencing anxiety if they cannot work out. This compulsion violates the principle of moderation.

Balanced exercise means: following appropriate training schedules with rest days, listening to your body's signals, varying types of exercise to prevent overuse injuries, and maintaining exercise as a health practice rather than an obsession.

Technology and Screen Time

In the digital age, intemperance often manifests as excessive screen time. Constant use of phones, computers, tablets, and televisions can lead to: sleep disruption from blue light exposure, social isolation despite "social" media, decreased physical activity, poor posture and eye strain, reduced attention span and mental capacity, and addiction to digital stimulation.

Practicing digital temperance requires: setting specific times for device use, keeping devices out of bedrooms, taking regular breaks from screens, engaging in face-to-face relationships, and being intentional rather than mindless in media consumption.

The Benefits of Temperance

Area of Life	Benefits of Temperance
Physical Health	Reduced disease risk, longer lifespan, better energy levels, healthy weight maintenance, improved sleep quality, stronger immune system
Mental Health	Clearer thinking, better decision-making, improved focus and concentration, reduced anxiety and depression, enhanced self-esteem, greater emotional stability
Spiritual Health	Closer relationship with God, greater spiritual discernment, stronger prayer life, increased ability to resist temptation, better witness to others, peace of conscience
Relationships	Better family relationships, improved friendships, professional respect, positive influence on others, trust from loved ones, ability to be fully present
Financial	Money saved from not buying harmful substances, reduced medical costs, better job performance, wise financial decisions, ability to be generous with others
Character	Increased self-control in all areas, stronger willpower, integrity and consistency, freedom from addictions, dignity and self-respect, exemplary conduct

Developing Self-Control

Temperance doesn't come naturally—it must be cultivated through intentional practice and divine assistance. Here are practical strategies for building self-control:

1. Recognize Your Weaknesses

Honest self-examination is the first step. What areas of life lack balance? Where do you struggle with excess or indulgence? Acknowledging these areas without denial or excuses is essential for change.

2. Set Clear Boundaries

Establish specific rules for yourself regarding potentially problematic areas. For harmful substances, the boundary is simple: complete abstinence. For good things requiring moderation, set clear limits (e.g., "I will eat until satisfied, not stuffed" or "I will limit screen time to two hours daily").

3. Avoid Temptation

Don't place yourself in situations where you'll be unnecessarily tempted. If you struggle with overeating, don't keep junk food in your house. If alcohol is a problem, avoid bars and parties where drinking is central. Proverbs 4:14-15 advises: "Enter not into the path of the wicked... Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away."

4. Replace Bad Habits with Good Ones

When you remove a harmful habit, fill that space with something beneficial. If you quit smoking, take up exercise during times you would have smoked. If you struggle with overeating, replace emotional eating with prayer or talking to a friend. Nature abhors a vacuum—fill the space with positive practices.

5. Practice Delayed Gratification

Strengthen your willpower by intentionally delaying pleasures. Wait 10 minutes before having dessert. Fast from a favorite food for a period. These exercises in self-denial build the "muscle" of self-control that can be applied to all areas of life.

6. Seek Accountability

Share your goals with trusted friends or family members who will support and encourage you. Join accountability groups or find a mentor who has overcome similar struggles. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us: "Two are better than one... For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow."

7. Pray for Divine Strength

Ultimately, true temperance requires God's help. Human willpower alone is insufficient to overcome deeply rooted habits and powerful addictions. We must daily surrender to God and ask for His Spirit to work in us, producing the fruit of temperance.

Overcoming Addiction

For those already enslaved by addiction—whether to substances, food, work, or other compulsions—the path to freedom requires special consideration.

Acknowledge the Problem

Denial is the first barrier to recovery. Admit honestly that you have a problem and that you need help. This admission, while difficult, is liberating and necessary for change.

Decide to Change

Make a firm decision to break free from addiction. This decision must be wholehearted and non-negotiable. Half-measures will fail. As Joshua declared: "Choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).

Seek Professional Help

Many addictions require professional intervention. Don't be too proud to seek help from doctors, counselors, or addiction specialists. God often works through medical professionals to bring healing.

Remove Temptations Completely

Get rid of all substances or triggers associated with your addiction. Delete contacts of enablers. Avoid places where you engaged in addictive behavior. Make your environment as safe as possible.

Build a Support Network

Surround yourself with people who support your recovery. Consider joining support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Celebrate Recovery, or similar programs. Isolation is dangerous for those in recovery.

Develop New Patterns

Create new routines that support your recovery. Fill your time with healthy activities, fellowship with positive people, service to others, and spiritual practices. Build a new life that doesn't include the old addiction.

Persevere Through Setbacks

Recovery is rarely a straight line. If you slip, don't give up—get back up immediately and continue forward. Each day of victory strengthens you. Lamentations 3:22-23 encourages us: "The Lord's mercies... are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."

Biblical Foundation of Temperance

Scripture consistently emphasizes the importance of self-control and moderation. The Bible describes temperance as a fruit of the Holy Spirit and a virtue that should characterize every believer's life.

The Apostle Paul makes it clear that temperance is essential for spiritual victory: "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (1 Corinthians 9:25). Just as athletes exercise rigorous self-control to win earthly prizes, Christians must practice temperance to gain eternal rewards.

God's Word also provides clear warnings about the dangers of intemperance. Proverbs 23:20-21 warns: "Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags." These warnings are not arbitrary restrictions but loving guidance to protect us from self-destruction.

Ellen G. White on Temperance

Ellen G. White, a health reformer and prophet, received divine counsel on healthful living that has guided Seventh-day Adventists for over 150 years. Her writings on temperance connect physical health directly to spiritual well-being:

"The subject of temperance, in all its bearings, has an important place in the working out of our salvation."

"Intemperance lies at the foundation of the moral depravity of the world. By the indulgence of perverted appetite, man loses his power to resist temptation."

Temperance as Worship

Practicing temperance is ultimately an act of worship. It acknowledges that our bodies belong to God, not to ourselves. It demonstrates trust that God's ways are better than our impulses. It shows gratitude for the gift of life by stewarding it carefully.

"The law of temperance must control the life of every Christian. God is to be in all our thoughts; His glory is ever to be kept in view. We must break away from every influence that would captivate our thoughts and lead us from God."

"He [God] desires that mind and body be preserved in the best condition of health, every power and endowment under the divine control, and as vigorous as careful, strictly temperate habits can make them."

When we exercise self-control, we honor the One who created us. When we refuse harmful substances, we protect the temple where His Spirit dwells. When we moderate our use of good things, we demonstrate wisdom and gratitude. Every act of temperance is a declaration that God is Lord of our lives—including our physical bodies.

Furthermore, our temperance serves as a powerful witness to others. In a world characterized by excess and addiction, Christians who practice genuine self-control stand out. Others notice and are drawn to investigate the source of such strength. Our temperance can lead others to Christ.

The Eternal Perspective

Temperance prepares us for eternity. The selfish, undisciplined life characterized by indulgence will not enter God's kingdom. Scripture warns that the intemperate—drunkards, gluttons, and those enslaved to fleshly passions—will not inherit eternal life (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21).

In contrast, those who practice temperance develop characters fit for heaven. Self-control is part of the process of sanctification that prepares us to live in God's presence forever. The disciplined life on earth is training for the perfected life in eternity.

Paul describes this perspective powerfully: "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).

The temporary sacrifices of temperance are nothing compared to the eternal rewards. Every temptation resisted, every indulgence refused, every excess avoided—these strengthen us for the life to come.

Practical Action Steps

Remember: Temperance is not achieved through human willpower alone. Daily surrender to Christ, constant prayer, and dependence on the Holy Spirit are essential. "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).