Fundamentally, the gospel itself makes sobriety an imperative (cf. Titus 2:12), which also explain why Christians are exhorted towards sobriety in light of the imminent return of the Lord Jesus (cf. 1 Peter 4:7). However, of what sort is this spirit of sobriety?

In my previous post, I discussed how patience (along with the closely-related virtues of endurance and perseverance) is one of the most valuable Christian virtues in connection to Christian maturity. However, there is another virtue of the Christian life which, when duly exercised, will contribute substantially to our well-being as individual Christians and as a church body. If we are to pursue genuine Christian maturity, we must heed the exhortation towards sobriety.

I think that most Christians would think of sobriety primarily in terms of restraint from alcohol or other addictive substances. However, the scriptures give a fuller meaning of this virtue.

Sobriety and Wisdom

Within the OT, sobriety is often depicted in terms of levelheadedness in judgment. For example, during Job’s period of severe trial, Job sought to find and keep the proper balance between hope and despair, while his unwise friends gave exaggerated and lopsided explanations of Job’s sorrows and of God’s purposes. For this, the Lord chastises Job’s friends (cf. Job 42:7), even as Job is commended for his level-headed judgment. In this sense, sobriety was a form of true wisdom. The book of Proverbs illustrates that OT saints were made well-aware of the importance and value of a mind and heart that maintained a sober and well-balanced view which was in harmony with the God’s law and yet avoided extremes of judgment of action. This explains why impulsiveness, carelessness, and exaggeration in emotion are considered traits of folly (cf. Proverbs 14:5; 18:2; 29:11).

The apostles build upon this OT background to define sobriety as freedom from every form of mental and spiritual drunkenness, which includes freedom from excess, inordinate passions, rashness, and confusion (cf. 1 Peter 1:13; 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:6). Therefore, the call to sobriety is a call to a well-balanced and self-controlled life and this call extends to all Christians and all stages of life. However, note that the apostles do not content themselves with the general call to sobriety, but address themselves in the matter to individuals and groups, listing Christians according to their calling with the specific application to their several needs. Consider the call of sobriety in our appraisal of gifts and character (cf. Romans 12:3), towards elders (cf. 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7-8), towards aged women (cf. Titus 2:4; 1 Timothy 2:9), towards young women (cf. Titus 2:5), towards aged men (cf. Titus 2:2), and towards young men (cf. Titus 2:2). Thus, sobriety is a necessary ingredient of every phase of our sanctified life and the very life of our church is conditioned by its influence.

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