Better Than Taking a City
"He that ruleth his spirit is better than he that taketh a city" It is by failure to rule one's spirit that bad habits are formed. The will that yields the first time with some reluctance, does so the second time with less hesitation, and the third time with none at all, until presently the habit is adopted. It is unfortunate if you have become the victim of some undesirable habit. But, in case you have, do not give in to your weakness; rather, let it be a challenge to prove yourself. If you have the manhood to put up enough fight to overcome your weakness, so that you acquire the strength to rule yourself, you will have achieved something which, as our proverb says, is better than taking a city. This is a great achievement, well worth a fight. But the proverb does not refer merely to the one victory. In learning to rule himself, to control his appetites and passions, a man has actually accomplished something more important to him than if he had, literally, taken a city. But the matter does not end with that preliminary triumph. He is, for all time after, better because of his conquest. His gain in self-respect will give him a new sense of manhood, and enable him to face the world without feeling the sense of defeat and shame. But that is not all, he has started on the way to new conquests. He has created within himself a forcefulness that may be used continually, in achievement after achievement. And each new triumph increases that strength, that character, which is able to go on conquering and to conquer. Here is no easy fight. But there is help available through prayer--in Him of whom Paul said "I can do all things through Him that strengtheneth me." There is no more difficult conquest than the conquest of self. But having won that fight, there is no objective which cannot be taken. Conquer yourself, be the controlling master of your spirit, and you can be the master of your destiny. And that, surely, is better than taking a city. Take a city, and what have you? You will have on your hands a large order--to rule it. If you have not learned to rule yourself, how can you hope to rule a city?
