Meekness!
In Matthew Chapter 5 verse 5, Jesus said "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." In other words: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
It must be said right from the beginning that meekness is NOT weakness. It takes a strong character to deliberately set aside their rights. For example Moses was the meekest man in all the earth (Number 12:1-3) and Moses was not a weak willed chara...
Meekness!
In Matthew Chapter 5 verse 5, Jesus said "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." In other words: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
It must be said right from the beginning that meekness is NOT weakness. It takes a strong character to deliberately set aside their rights. For example Moses was the meekest man in all the earth (Number 12:1-3) and Moses was not a weak willed character! Meekness is accepting God's dealings with us as good, without dispute or resistance. Meekness is effectively trusting God to be God! The Christian disciple is to be a person who claims no rights of their own, and who is willing to yield all possessions and personal rights to God. The Christian disciple sees possessions as being loaned to them by God for His work & glory. We see this in Jesus’ example (Philippians 2v5-6) and also in the early church (Acts 5v12). It is also a necessary part of carrying our cross as Jesus commanded in Luke 9v23.
But why should Christian disciples give up their rights? We do so because we belong to God, through our own volition. Remember that as a Christian disciple, "You are not your own, you were bought at a price" writes Paul to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Contradictory to this is the way of the world, which insists that every person has rights and that they have a right to use their rights!
What do Christian disciples gain by handing over their own rights to God? Amongst other things we gain inner satisfaction and peace (Ps. 22:26; 37:8-11) and an increased joy in the Lord (Is. 29:19)
When we as Christian disciples insist on our own rights and they are violated, there are two main consequences - anger and worry. When we get angry or worry, we are trying to control or change something that God never intended for us to change or control. Anger or anxiety is a sign that a right God wants me to yield is involved. Jim Elliot put it thus: "He is no fool, who gives up what he can lose, to gain things he cannot lose" -
I wonder what makes you angry or worried! For me its different things at different times. Sometimes it will be my computer failing or taking too long! At other times it may be due to the car in front not moving quick enough when the traffic lights go green! Anger and worry result from thinking that the so called problem is bigger than God. What steps can you follow which may help you overcome the terrible twins of anger and worry?
Firstly identify the areas which tend to get you angry or worried. Allow your heart to be a workshop of the Holy Spirit and prayerfully think through each area and yield each one of them to Him, with no strings attached. These areas may include things like lifestyle; marriage; friendships; reputation; possessions; health; money or time. When these are yielded to God, God is then responsible for these areas of our lives and we can live on the basis of “Everything works for the good of those who loved Him..." Romans 8:28-29 2. Expect God to test His rights. As each right is yielded, God will probably allow situations to occur which will deny you these rights. These are opportunities to see if the right was really yielded. It may be necessary to once again yield that right to Jesus Christ. Finally, acknowledge you are God's possession and His responsibility (1 Cor. 6:19-20) and thank God in all circumstances (1 Thess 5:18)
For more to think about please do read Philippians Chapter 2 verses 1 to 11 and Philippians Chapter 4 verses 6 to 7.
- What rights or areas are you holding onto that you need to give to God, in order to exhibit meekness?
- How can you show and share with somebody outside the Church, what meekness is?
I Thank you.
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