Monday Morning Memo: Meekness or Weakness?

This week we are going to look at the third beatitude of which Jesus shared with his disciples and many other onlookers on that day on the mountainside.  I’m beginning to wonder how those who were listening reacted as they listened.  Did they begin to squirm a little more with each one that He shared or were they listing in their minds which one of their friends needed to be listening?  I know that if I’m honest, I sometimes listen to a sermon and spend my time thinking, “I sure hope so-and-so is listening to this.  THEY sure need to hear it.”  As a result, I miss out on hearing what the Lord wants to tell ME so that I can look more like Him.

I’m confident that those who were there in person were a little perplexed when they heard this third beatitude, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matt 5:5) Meek?  I’m supposed to be a wimpy, soft-spoken person and become a doormat, letting everyone run over me?  Thanks Lord…but no thanks!

Once again we discover a beatitude that is contrary to what the world is yelling at us today.  Many would probably say that a meek person finishes last, so we need to make sure that we are always pushing harder and harder to get further and further ahead. We have to make sure that everyone hears everything we say and sees everything we do to get ahead of the person beside us.  But if we take the time to understand that the meekness Jesus is talking about does not mean weakness, we can begin to figure out how this should affect our lives.  

When I think of meekness as it pertains to this beatitude, the words “settled spirit” comes to my mind.  The world can be swirling around us, but our inner spirit is not frazzled because we are putting our complete trust in our Jesus.  We commit everything we are and everything we have over to Him, knowing that He always has our best interest in mind.  Then, we wait patiently (ouch!) for Him to guide and direct us, not fretting or stewing when we are faced with the detours that come our way.

There is a verse, Psalm 37:11, that also refers to meekness. It says, “But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundance peace.”  The verses leading up to these words in verse 11, help us see more clearly how we should be living and is where I find my understanding of this beatitude.  Verses 3-11 say,

“Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
    Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
    though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
But the meek shall inherit the land  and delight themselves in abundant peace.”

Notice that we also see in these verses that if we are meek, we won't become angry or exhibit a spirit of revenge on those who may oppose or criticize us.  We will trust in our Jesus to handle those who may be against us, giving up our right to lash out in retaliation.

Remember that Jesus didn’t stop at saying the meek are blessed; He went on to say they will inherit the earth.  I wonder if He added these words to give His disciples that were listening that day…and His disciples following Him now…hope for our future.  I believe He added these words to give us strength to go on in meekness as we face trials and temptations.  We have our hope in our Jesus and the eternal reward that is waiting for us.  Oh what a day that will be!  Keeping that in mind should be enough to fill our hearts with joy and strength to trust Him to handle every detail in our lives until we see our Jesus face to face!