In 1975, tennis great Arthur Ashe was playing the arrogant and rude Ilie Nastase, nicknamed “Nasty” Nastase because he was so volatile on the tennis court. He made Johnny Mac look like a choir boy. At the Masters Tournament in Stockholm, “Nasty” was at his worst, stalling, cursing, taunting, and acting like a madman. Finally, Ashe put down his racket and walked off the court, saying, “I’ve had enough. I’m at the point where I’m afraid I’ll lose control.”

The umpire yelled, “If you leave the court, you’ll forfeit the match.”

Ashe replied, “I don’t care. I’d rather lose that than my self-respect.”

The next day the tournament committee came to a surprising solution. Refusing to condone Nastase’s bullying tactics, they insisted that Nastase default the match for unsportsmanlike conduct.

That day, Ashe won not only in the game of tennis but also in the game of life.

Self-control. A wall “Nasty” did not have. A wall many of us do not have. “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” Pr.25:28.

Self-control is a wall every one of us need. Yes, it is should be a trait of the godly person. It is should also be the trait of every non-godly person as well. We all need to restrain our passions and appetites. My next post will be a furtherance of this topic. Until then, I’d appreciate your prayers for this Sunday.