**TAKEN FROM www.Josh.org**
SELF-CONTROL WINS THE ESTEEM AND RESPECT OF OTHERS.
Bible Reading of the Day: Read Titus 2:11-14.
Verse of the Day: “We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God” (Titus 2:12).
Robbie and George had wandered around the school fair for a couple of hours. The halls and the classrooms were filled with noisy students playing games, getting their faces painted, drinking soda pop, and eating hamburgers, hot dogs, and baked goods.
“Look!” Robbie pointed to a booth with flashing lights and loud music. “I’m gonna play Mr. Thompson’s game!”
George followed Robbie to Mr. Thompson’s booth. Behind Mr. Thompson, they saw a row of painted coffee cans perched on a box. Robbie plopped down a dollar bill on the counter and asked for six balls to try to knock down the cans.
Mr. Thompson turned to George before he handed the balls to Robbie. “Would you like to play, George?” he asked.
George fingered the five-dollar bill in his pocket. “No, thanks,” he said.
Robbie tossed the balls and knocked all but one of the cans off the box. Mr. Thompson handed him a plastic key chain as a prize.
Later that afternoon, the two boys sat on the brick wall in front of the school and waited for George’s parents to pick them up.
“Do you have any money left?” Robbie asked.
George nodded. “I only spent a dollar on a hot dog and a soda. What about you?”
Robbie frowned as he shook his head. “No. I wish I did. I wanted to play that coin toss game one more time. How come you didn’t play any games?”
George shrugged. “I wanted to, I guess. But I’m going to use this money for a TurboJam remote-controlled car. I’ve been saving for weeks to get it.”
“Oh, man! I’ve wanted a TurboJam forever! You’re so lucky.”
“Why don’t you save up like I did?”
Robbie shook his head and frowned. “I could never do that. I’m not as good at that kinda stuff as you are. I wish I were.”
“I think you could do it if you really tried,” George suggested.
“Think so?” Robbie asked. A dreamy look entered his eyes. “That would be so cool,” he said. He pulled his new plastic key chain out of his pocket. “Better than a dumb key chain, that’s for sure.”
TO DO: Start a family savings project for a practical application of controlling desires. Choose an amount of time for this project, such as one month. Have everyone save the money that might normally be spent on snacks (those outside the daily nutritional requirements) or entertainment. At the end of the allotted time period, pool all of your money and do something nice for the whole family.
TO PRAY: “God, we know that self-control is right, and we know you can bless us when we obey you. Help us to live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to you.”
