“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.”
– Proverbs 25:28 (ESV)

As a high school student, I kept the shot chart for the varsity basketball coach. This required me to sit next to him on the bench during each game. He did a great job of keeping his emotions under control, but I did learn very quickly to keep my eyes on his feet. If he did react to an official’s call, he had the habit of raising his foot 10-12 inches off the floor as if he were going to stomp it on the floor. He never did, but I never knew when he would! Hall of Fame basketball coach, John Wooden said this about self-control: “I felt that my players would be more under control if I seemed to be under control. If I get out of control, how can I tell them to be under control? How can I tell them if they lose their self-control they will be outplayed—if I am losing my self-control on the bench?”

In Solomon’s day, walls were the primary defense of a city. When facing the advance of an enemy army, the people of the city would seek safety behind the walls, hoping to wait out the attack. Without good walls, a city was an easy target. There would be little hope of survival when the eventual attack did come. Solomon is comparing our lack of self-control to a city without good walls. We are defenseless when we lack self-control. Satan will attack us at our weakest points. He will use our pride, lust or desire for money to tear down our walls and destroy our lives. We are reminded to be “watchful” just as I was watching out for Coach’s foot. We must remember that Satan “prowls like a roaring lion.”  He is waiting for our walls to crumble when we let down our guard. The Apostle Paul gives us great teaching when he says, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Heavenly Father, strengthen me in my attempts to maintain my self-control. Help me to understand that Satan is real and waiting to pounce when I fail to keep my walls strong. Lord, You are my only hope. In Jesus’ mane, Amen.