Beatitudes: Meekness

What does the word “meekness” mean to you?  We don’t hear that word often, anymore.  It is rarely modeled by people.  A meek person is gentle and humble; Jesus Christ was described as being meek.  Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).  In other words, blessed or happy with enviable joy are the gentle and humble people in this world.

In a world that functions primarily through selfish ambition and power-hungry actions, meekness is an odd response from the Christian.  Of course, God’s Kingdom functions much differently than the world’s system, anyway, so we really shouldn’t be surprised when God calls us to respond in a meek manner to injustice or the prideful authority of others.   If we look at Christ, meekness is the Kingdom response to worldly abusive power.  I really think this means that rather than us using our power to deliver ourselves, we are to submit to God’s power by putting our hope in Christ to save and deliver us from our enemies in this world.  The reward for this “meek” attitude is that some day we will inherit the earth and reign for eternity in Christ.  For those people who pridefully demand to have power and authority now by stepping on the lives of others; they aren’t given power in God’s future Kingdom.   Pride and meekness cannot occupy the same space.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret–it leads only to evil.  For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. Psalm 37:8-9