The
Third Beatitude: Blessed are the Meek for they will
inherit the earth
Scripture Text: Matthew
5: 5
Blessed
are the meek, for they will inherit the earth (Matthew
5:5) (NIV)
In
our modern society, we want prestige and we often
want to be No. 1. We do not like to be called meek
because we often associate meekness with weakness.
When we think of a meek person, we think of a person
who is wishy-washy, spineless and afraid to stand
up for himself or one who will let others push him
around. That is not what the Bible talks about when
it speaks of meekness. In the Bible, characters such
as Moses, Abraham and Jesus were spoken of as being
meek and yet they were mighty men of God.
What
is meekness and how is it defined? In the Grecian
culture the word is used in three different ways:
1.
To describe a soothing medicine.
2. Sailors use it to describe a gentle breeze.
3. Farmers use it to describe a broken colt or tamed
animal
All
three descriptions are examples of great power under
control. For instance:
1.
An overdose of medicine can kill but used in correct
dosages, medicine has the power to heal.
2. Violent winds can be a hurricane with the power
to destroy but a gentle breeze has the power to refresh.
3. An untamed horse can be dangerous but a tamed horse
has the power to work.
As
you can see, power when handled appropriately or placed
under control is able to produced meekness.
The
Bible has many examples of meekness. Let us examine
three examples:
Moses
The
Old Testament tells us “now the man Moses
was very meek, above all the men which were upon the
face of the earth“(Numbers 12:3). He was
meek but this did not mean that he was spineless or
spiritless. His courage is evident in his confrontation
with Pharaoh and demand that the children of Israel
be let to go free. Moses also led the greatest group
of grumblers ever assembled in one place for forty
years through the wilderness and resolved problem
after problem for them. He had a tremendous relationship
with God, a relationship in which God spoke to him
face to face as a friend (Ex 33:11; Numbers 12:8;
Deut 5:4; 34:10). You will notice that Moses did not
defend his own name. He defended name of the Lord
at all times.
Looking
at Moses we realize that meekness is not standing
for our own honor. It is standing for God’s
honor.
Abraham
When
God called Abraham to leave his country, his people
and his father’s household to go to a land that
God will show him, Abraham took with him his nephew
Lot which was not God’s idea. When a disagreement
arose between Abraham’s herdsmen and the herdsman
of Lot (Gen 13:7), Abraham and Lot decided that they
should part ways. When it came to choosing the land
that each would take, Abraham gave Lot first choice
even though by right, Abraham, being the elder should
be the first to choose the land he wanted. This is
the strength of character (meekness) displayed by
Abraham. Abraham submitted to God and as a result,
Lot was not a threat to him. Abraham knew his inheritance
was in the Lord. He had power but it was under control.
He was meek so God kept his promise to him and caused
him literally “to inherit the earth.”
Jesus
Jesus
said that He was “meek and lowly in heart”
(Matthew 11:29), but he was never seen as spineless
or spiritless. When Jesus saw merchants desecrating
the temple in their dishonest buying and selling He
took a whip and drove them out from the temple. That
is not an action of a weak and timid man.
From
the 3 examples, what can we learn about the characteristics
of meekness?
Firstly,
it is power under God’s control. It is also
conceding to the Will of God. The meek person knows
that only God knows the answers and is willing to
be used by God. The meek person does not need to rely
on his own efforts to overpower others for he knows
that God will do all of that. Lastly and ultimately,
it is a quiet trusting in God. A Meek person is content.
Knowing
what meekness is, how will you react in difficult
circumstances?
Conclusion
Jesus
said “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit
the earth.” (Matthew 5:50. An inheritance is
only given when someone dies and we inherit what is
stated in his will. In this case, we are the ones
who choose to die. When we die to self that is, when
we acknowledge the sovereignty of God and submit our
will to His, we will grow in meekness. As we grow
in meekness, we share in Christ’s rich inheritance.
In times of trial, there is no need to assert ourselves
in order to impress others and there is no need to
defend ourselves to feel secure because we know that
God is in control. The meek seek nothing for themselves
and trust God implicitly and as such, God can entrust
all things to us.
Prayer Response
Dear Jesus, thank you for teaching us what it means
to be meek. May we always acknowledge your kingship
over our lives and submit our wills and strength under
your control. Help us always to defend your Name and
to be sensitive to what you are saying to us. Enable
us to be obedient to your calling. Thank you for the
promise that the “Blessed will inherit the earth.
Amen
Devotional based on a message by Rev. Vincent Goh