Meekness

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5).

Meekness is an important quality for Christians. Meekness is similar to humility and gentleness in the Bible.

Meekness is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23). Biblical meekness is not a natural personality trait, but it is a supernatural quality that is produced in us by the Holy Spirit.

Christians are commanded to pursue meekness (1 Tim. 6:11). We are commanded to show all meekness to all men (Tit. 3:2). We are instructed to behave with meekness (Eph. 4:2). We are told that meekness is very valuable to God (1 Pet. 3:4). 

In today’s world it is hard to find good examples of meekness. There is a lot of roughness and coarseness in the world’s conversation. For many ancient philosophers and cultures, meekness was not a virtue, just like today. For Aristotle, meekness was almost a vice. Beethoven ridiculed meekness when he said that “power is the moral principle of those who excel others.” Meekness is often not valued by the world.
Jesus said, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all” (Mark 10:42-45).

The leaders of God’s kingdom are called to be meek. This is opposite the way the world works. The people of the world lead by asserting human power and force of personality. God’s leaders are to lead in a different way. The best leaders are meek.

When Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, he was a very good leader. At the same time, he was the meekest man on the earth (Num. 12:1-3). Moses was meek because he trusted in God’s power, not his own power.

There was a time in Moses’ life when he was not meek. When he was the prince of Egypt, he tried to do things through the power of his flesh, and he became a murderer. This did not work, and he fled from Egypt. Then after 40 years in the wilderness, he became a meek man. He trusted in God, not in himself. He became a successful leader who overthrew Egypt, the mightiest nation on earth.

Some people misunderstand meekness and think that meekness equals weakness. This is not true. Meekness means trusting in the strength and power of God, and resting in him and waiting for his mighty hand to work. It means not taking things into one’s own hands, but waiting for God to do awesome things. Meekness is relying on God, not on oneself. 

Jesus Christ was meek (Matt. 11:29, Matt, 21:5). He trusted totally in his Father and operated in the Spirit. There are many examples in the Bible of Jesus showing strength when he spoke to others and interacted with them. He was not weak, nor was he rude. He did not lash out at others in his flesh. John 18:23 is one example.

Paul was another meek man (2 Cor. 10:1). Although Paul spoke up for himself, for truth, and for God, he didn’t fight for his rights or struggle in his flesh against his persecutors. He certainly did not cower in defeat. He was strong in faith, trusting in God. One example of this is found in Acts 16:37. Paul accomplished many amazing things in the earth because of his meekness.

Meekness is not weakness. On the other hand meekness is not quarrelsome or argumentative. It does not get angry suddenly. It does not harbor malice or bitterness in the heart. Meekness enables the heart to be full of the infinite power of God and rest in him.

The wicked are not meek. When they are persecuted or offended, they release many bad things out of themselves. This is illustrated in Isa. 57:20 which says the wicked are like “the troubled sea that throws up mire and dirt.” When the wicked are disturbed, they respond by throwing up mire and dirt – harmful words or actions. When this happens, they and the people around them have no peace.

Meekness turns the other cheek (Matt. 5:39). This takes strength. It takes strength to turn the other cheek after one cheek has already been hit; it is easier to cower on the ground in fear or run away. To stand tall and turn the other cheek takes supernatural strength. This shows thatit is not easy to be meek. Meekness does not come naturally; it comes from the Holy Spirit.

Meekness is willing to endure hostility from sinners (Heb. 12:3).

Meekness is willing to allow itself to be defrauded and not fight back (1 Cor 6:7).

Meekness does not avenge itself. When mistreated, meekness trusts in God to make things right. In doing so, meekness leaves place for God’s wrath to come and rectify injustice. When we avenge ourselves we take away the opportunity for God to act on our behalf and bring justice (Rom. 12:19). God does not want his children to be mistreated or abused. He is a just God. When we don’t fight for ourselves, God will take just vengeance for us. God will defend us.

Meekness does not shout back when it is shouted at. Meekness does not threaten others when it is threatened (1 Peter 2:19-22).

Meekness is necessary when teaching Christian truth to others – whether to believers or unbelievers (2 Tim 2:25).
Finally, Jesus promises that the meek will inherit the earth. An inheritance is not gained because of a person’s energy, skill, or power. An inheritance is gained simply because the owner of a possession died. By virtue of a close relationship with that owner, a person became that owner’s heir and was included in his will or testament. Death causes the inheritance to pass on to the heir.

The earth belonged to Jesus from the beginning of the world. He died on the cross. Now all his possessions, including the earth, become our possessions because we are his heirs. The reality of our ownership of the earth will become clear in eternity, after Jesus comes back.

Let us pursue meekness. It is the pathway to peace in this life, and to glory in the next.