The beauty of moderation

At one point I began to consider deeply what it means to be moderate in the way we think and live. I wasn’t sure how practical it was for this day and age. It is often expected that to lead a successful life, we need to spend long, sometimes extreme, hours working or studying. Another example can be found in the way we think about food and diet.

In the Bible, the Apostle Paul earnestly counsels, “Let your moderation be known unto all men” (Philippians 4:5). Merriam-Webster’s Thesaurus defines “moderation” as “an avoidance of extremes in one’s actions, beliefs, or habits” and lists “temperance” as a synonym.

In “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science, includes temperance among transitional, moral qualities. These qualities, when naturally and gracefully expressed, demonstrate a state of thought and character that is transitioning from a material, mortal standpoint to an increasingly spiritual one. Mrs. Eddy identifies the following as transitional qualities: “Humanity, honesty, affection, compassion, hope, faith, meekness, temperance” (p. 115).

Such qualities, including temperance and moderation, have their source in God, who is all good. So they could never be impractical in any age.

I began to pray to see a greater expression of them in my own life. And as I grew in my understanding of God, Spirit, and man as His spiritual idea or reflection – which is the true identity of all of us – moderation became more and more apparent in my daily experience. Extreme viewpoints and practices were revealed and eliminated, including an extreme emphasis on what was good and bad to eat. As I addressed these views and behaviors prayerfully one by one, my life was brought into a more harmonious balance. This occurred effortlessly; it was the effect of Spirit acting on human consciousness, purifying and uplifting my thought.

There’s no law or opposing power that can deny the rightful expression of moderation in our life. Paul, a follower of Christ Jesus, wrote, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22, 23).

If we think of the qualities of temperance and moderation as “fruit,” we can begin to understand them as effects from a greater cause. A piece of fruit grows from a tree or plant, so the fruit itself is an outgrowth of the plant and its natural functions. In the same way, moderation and temperance are “fruits” of the one great and vital source – Spirit, God.

As Spirit’s image and likeness, we can’t help but express “the fruit of the Spirit,” just as a tree or plant can’t decide on its own to say, “Nope, I’m not going to have any fruit this year! Too bad!” Moral and spiritual qualities are innate in each of us. So we can claim our God-given right to manifest moderation and see the blessings it brings to our daily life.

And if any thought tries to convince us that we’re unable to do so, we can rest in the fact that it’s not us trying to express these qualities through our own will or effort. As we better understand God, and ourselves as His ideas, the fruit, the practical expression of this understanding, just naturally grows in us.

Adapted from an article published in the Aug. 12, 2019, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.