Beatitudes - Blessed are the meek...
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
There was a TV commercial several years ago featuring Charles Barkley in which he stated “The meek may inherit the earth, but they won’t get the ball.” This was a clever quip for the purposes of selling basketball shoes but I believe it goes further than that. It actually captures our culture’s view of the meek. We don’t consider meekness to be a virtue. America is about winning and out-performing the competition. How can meekness co-exist with a conquering spirit?
Like the other beatitudes, there is a misconception of the meaning of a key words - meek. In this context meekness means to be tamed or subdued. Think of the taming of a wild animal and its submission to their master. An unbroken horse is not of much use to anyone, but a horse that has been broken and is under submission to his trainer is of great use.
Would you want your favorite football team to exhibit a spirit of meekness? Of course. Wouldn’t you rather them submit to their coaches and the spirit of team ball rather than just running around playing an unbridled and selfish brand of football. This is why Briarwood has won so many games against more talented teams year after year. It happens at all levels of the sport. Discipline and team play usually trumps unbridled talent.
We are also called to be in submission to an authority other than ourselves - God’s. Resisting God’s authority would be the opposite of meekness. What does that look like in our lives?
We will exhibit self-control. We will have control over our tongue and our actions. This doesn’t mean that we live weak and fearful lives. That is not what meekness is. It is power and love under control. 2 Tim. 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
We will submit to obedience of God’s Word. This shapes and molds us into men and women of God. James 1:21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
We seek and submit to God’s will. God reveals His will for us through The Word and through our relationship with Him. Are we paying attention?
We consider the interests of others more important than our own. This aspect is very challenging. It can only be carried out in faith. We’ll never do this perfectly but a spirit of meekness will help us think of others before ourselves. Ephesians 5:21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Meekness in not weakness. Weakness is for those who only want to operate under their own power. The meek sit under the blessing of God.
Stay hungry,
Big E
Matt. 5:6