I think all people, men and women alike, struggle with emotions. I’ll admit, some things—such as abortion, bad drivers, and a McDonald’s that runs out of shakes—really get my blood boiling. (I only mention McDonald’s shakes because it just happened to me last night after walking a mile to get one.) Other times, I find myself getting sad, jealous, worried, stressed, excited, cheerful, optimistic—you name it.

Writing to Timothy, Paul describes the qualities of a Christian leader this way: “Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2).

I always thought the word temperate meant someone who doesn’t lose his temper easily. Although that’s sort of correct, pastor and author Gene Getz gives a much clearer definition in his book, The Measure of Man:

“Put another way, a temperate man doesn’t go to extremes. He doesn’t get bogged down trying to solve all the world’s problems. At the same time, he does what he can to solve humankind’s social ills, but he does so without neglecting his biblical priorities.”

One thing I’ve been working on lately is my temperance, or how well I’m able to avoid emotional extremes. Sure, things that are out of my control will still come up that will stir my emotions. Although the situation may be out of my control, how I react to it is not. And, most importantly, I need to remember who’s actually in control of everything. Pastor Getz puts it this way:

“A stable man is a temperate man because he knows where history is going. He is aware that God is in control of the universe as well as the affairs of mankind. On the other hand, he knows he is responsible to do all he can to carry out God’s purposes for him in the world. If married, his goal is to be a loving husband, a responsible father and a good provider for his family. He is a faithful employer or employee and devoted member of his church. His consistent objective is to be a dynamic Christian witness wherever he lives and by what he says.”