Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

“To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” - Ephesians 4:22-24 
  
If you’re familiar with hip-hop from the early 90s, you might recall Ice Cube’s hit single “Check Yo Self.” The message was clear: think before you act, especially when it comes to violence, reckless behavior, and impulsive decisions. Ice Cube’s message to the streets was that without self-restraint, you’re bound to end up in regret.  

The concept of "checking yourself" is not just catchy, it’s wisdom that spans generations. And before Ice Cube made this a household phrase, the Apostle Paul had already been telling believers to “check themselves” long ago.  

In Ephesians 4, Paul gave Christians powerful advice on how to handle their anger, relationships, and their personal growth in Christ. He knew that without self-awareness and self-control, our old habits could easily derail the new life we’re called to live in Jesus.
 
Paul says, “Be angry, but do not sin”, emphasizing that while emotions like anger are natural, they must be managed differently now that we belong to Christ. The key is not letting these emotions dictate our actions. Instead, Paul urges us to “put off the old self,” which is driven by harmful desires and poor judgment, and to “put on the new self,” which is created to reflect God’s righteousness and holiness.

If you want to avoid wrecking your life with anger, bitterness, or other destructive habits, you have to take time to “check yourself.” This means taking a step back before you act, considering the consequences, and choosing to respond in a way that honors God. It’s about recognizing that the Holy Spirit is transforming you from the inside out, making it possible for you to handle life’s challenges in a way that reflects Christ’s love, peace, and wisdom.  

So, before anger, frustration, or any other negative emotion drives your decisions today, remember to check yourself. Stop and ask: “How does God want me to respond?” This is the new self in action, the one that is being renewed day by day in the likeness of God. And when you do, you’ll find that the energy you put into checking yourself will help you avoid wrecking yourself.