The Beatitudes, Part 3: The Surprising Strength of Meekness
Jesus' Wisdom in Beatitude #3
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5
The Greek term for meekness, praus, means "the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one's self-importance, gentleness, humility, courtesy, considerateness." BAGD (a Greek lexicon)
Strong Meekness
Our world's philosophy says only the strong survive, swim with the sharks, get tough, and look out for number one. Who wants to put meekness on their resume? Nice guys usually finish last.
People misunderstood meekness as being a timid, indecisive person, passive, or a wimp. That's not what Jesus is talking about.
Meekness is not a lack of backbone. Jesus was meek. Meekness is strength under control. It's the ability to endure insults and move on. Meekness is not seeking our agenda. It's putting someone else first. As such, it is an incredible trait to have in our lives.
Meek people have a quiet steadiness about their lives during any upheaval because they are utterly yielded to God. It is freedom from pretension and the ability to endure injury, to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile. A meek person does not aggressively insist on their rights. They control their emotions in the face of disappointing circumstances and behavior in others.
Meek people know they will "inherit the earth," meaning they will share in God's kingdom one day. Since they are not grabbing for more, they can be at peace with what they have and don't have and enjoy what God provides, knowing what is to come. Would I envy your excellent car or new house if I knew that my Father owned the city and I was the beneficiary of his will? One day God will give the earth to the meek. How are you doing with meekness? At home? In school? At work?
What do you desire so much that you can taste it? Advertisers understand the power of desire. But then we realize we are just eating large bites of cotton candy, which doesn't satisfy us. God's answer is not to temper our desires but to change the object of our desire. The fourth Beatitude addresses desire.
