Temperance is a fruit of the Spirit, and it is listed in 2 Peter 1 as one of the virtues that help us to never fall. This is not self-mastery. We cultivate it through humility, through Christian growth, and through yielding to God. We see a demonstration of this in 1 Corinthians 10:13.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

As a Christian each one of us is different. Our temptations are different. Some of us are weaker or stronger than others. We all grew up in different environments. However, God does two things for us regarding temperance and temptations.  Even though God does not tempt us to sin, He sets boundaries on the temptation, so that we can overcome it. He also empowers us with the fruit of the Spirit Temperance to escape the temptation. 

-- Ron Cox, Director of HOPE Ministry