What is Meekness?
Meekness is an attribute not easily understood in our culture. So often confused with weakness, deficiency and complacency. Let’s face it in today’s fast paced, self-serving, dog-eat-dog culture there’s no patience or tolerance for what might be perceived as weakness. Meekness on the other hand is powerful, it is on the opposite end of the spectrum from weakness. Meekness can best be understood as power under control. When doing a Biblical word study, I came across the original Greek word for meekness which is Praus (prah-oos’). It was used to describe a wild horse that was trained for war. The only horses fit for the battlefield were the ones able to be bridled. Horses capable of restraining their power and strength to the will of their master. Interestingly, my first thought was, isn’t this how we win the spiritual battles in our own lives; by yielding to the will of our Master (Jesus)? Exercising meekness, grace and mercy over power and control. I feel Pastor Colin Smith describes meekness best; “The means by which God tames the sinful soul by taming the temper, subduing the assertive self, calming the passions, managing the impulses of the heart, and bringing order out of chaos in the soul.”
My hope is to provide practical ways to grow in this attribute and to glorify God with its splendor.
Ok, so why should we practice meekness?
In the four Gospel accounts the only two autobiographical descriptions Jesus’s uses of Himself are lowly and meek. If the Savior of the world values these attributes than we would be faithful to better understand the inner working of Biblical meekness and emulate His example.
When meekness is beautifully displayed, no one can mistake its presence and power. Truly, it’s a testimony unto itself. An ability that comes directly from the LORD. The kind of power that strokes deep curiosity and wonder in the heart of an unbeliever.
How do we practice meekness towards God?
Meekness is displayed in scripture two ways, vertically towards God and horizontally towards our fellow man. As these two intersect we get a picture of ultimate meekness in the cross of Christ. It’s the supreme example of power under control. Jesus had all power and authority to come down from the cross, however, chose to submit His will to the Father and bear our sinner penalty.
It’s a hard concept to spell out when using the previous definition “power under control”. You may ask yourself “What power do I have over God?” I’m so glad you asked. Our God has remarkably endowed us with the gift of free will. The sovereign God of the Universe generously gives humanity the power of free choice. The choice to trust and obey, or to walk our own way without Him. To love and follow Him or to be lovers of ourselves. Meekness towards God consists of being submitted to His plan for our life and being led by the Spirit. Here are a few ways to cultivate meekness towards God:
Trust and obey:
One of my favorite classical hymns….” Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus but, to trust and obey”. I have learned just how true this statement is in my own life. We don’t just arrive; this submission takes time and maturity as we walk daily with the Lord. The only way to trust and obey the Savior, is to be intimately acquainted with His character. Think about it, on a gut level, how can you truly trust someone, if you don’t know them? Send time with Him. Study His character. Study His Word and see how He consistently shows up for His children. The bible describes Him as long-suffering or patient. Can you think of examples where God has been patient with you? He is full of compassion, slow to anger, and is merciful. I know there are hundreds of occasions over the years where God has shown me mercy and compassion in His patience toward me. When you recognize God’s hand in your life, trusting and obeying will come easier. The beautiful thing is meekness towards God allows us to be pliable clay in the Maker’s hands. Allowing God to mold us into the masterpieces we were meant to be (Isaiah 64:8). He will continue to teach, transform and renew our minds with the washing of the His Word (Romans 12:2); so, we think, and act like Him.
Choose to bear the burden of suffering:
Really? Why would I want to suffer, you may ask? If you’re willing to suffer you’re in good company. Have you ever noticed there’s an overarching pattern in the bible? First suffering then glory. Psalm 30:5, Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. You can witness this pattern in the lives of so many; to name just a few read the stories of Joseph, Elijah, Daniel, Ruth, and of course at the pinnacle of suffering, Jesus himself.
In our vertical relationship with God, meekness is the practice of daily surrendering our well-orchestrated life plans for His. It’s giving up the temporal for the eternal. When we choose to follow God’s plan, we many times choose to bear the burden of suffering. Let’s be honest not all God’s plans for us are painless. Have you found there is usually a fair share of suffering when you begin the practice of dying to self, or is that just me? When we take a trust walk with Christ, we come to understand there is growth in the pain. Our Heavenly Father can and will use a variety of ways to teach and shape His children. Not only through His Word, but through our suffering, our experiences, through believers and non-believers, and through family, friends, adversaries and neighbors. Be open and willing to look at these interactions as learning experiences for spiritual growth.
How can we practice meekness towards our fellow man?
In our horizontally relationship with our fellow man, meekness is the practice of rightly displaying Christ’s character to an unbelieving world. It’s not reviling back at the person that gossips about you or cuts you off in traffic. It’s quenching the urge to stay angry, choosing to practice forgiveness instead. It’s accepting a scenario where you don’t come out on top. Or meekness can be as simple as resisting the urge to have the last word in argument.
Let’s be honest…the sobering truth, this is not always an easy road. The twist and turns of this road are extremely challenging. The journey of meekness and submission is definitely a less traveled path. It’s the opportunity to let the King fight our battles, and to trust Him at His word. The joyful discovery of His character, as we watch His plans unfold in our lives with complete awe and wonder; because He is a good, good Father.
I recall a moment of meekness many years ago that dropped the jaw of more than one unbeliever. At the time, that unbeliever was my former husband. Like a doe caught in the headlights, he watched a radical transformation of his extremely wild wife turn Jesus follower overnight and wasn’t sure what to make of it.
One afternoon we were out at a local ice cream parlor. As I eagerly awaited my heaping, delicious scoop of Rocky Road; we ran into a former employee of mine. Unfortunately, I had recently fired her for gross misconduct. She was still teeming with rage at her perceived injustice. We catch a glimpse of one another, and I see her posture herself towards me like a bull preparing to charge. Within seconds this disgruntled woman was within inches of my face screaming and cursing. While children and their parents stood watching, unsure of how to react. The pungent smell of her afternoon coffee landed across my face as each vile word felt like a slap.
What happens next, I can only explain as a supernatural event. In this loud, high-tension scenario, I had an unusual, and unmistakable sense of peace washed over me. I had never in my life felt so calm. This was certainly nothing I could manufacture in my own strength. No, ONLY the power of God could create this kind of peace. In hindsight I realize, the Lord was empowering the fruit of meekness in me. Like most people, in my limited understanding I always associated meekness with weakness. But I didn’t feel weak, I didn’t feel like a victim. I felt peace and strength.
I stepped back slightly, just to get away from her coffee breath and emphatically said, “I’m really sorry you feel this way.” Her venom had turned to stunned speechlessness. The situation was defused. After what felt like a few long moments, she dropped a few additional choice words and with an open palm violently shoved the glass door open and was on her way. When I turned back around and every ice cream lover looked completely shell shocked. My former husband literally stood motionless, with his jaw dropped opened. I guess you could say he was dumb struck, he began to vigorously shake his head. He kept repeating (as a matter of fact for several days after the incident) “I can believe YOU didn’t take a swing at her, Deb!” “Who are YOU?”. He knew extremely well; his Pre-Jesus wild wife would have laid this woman out without a moments’ hesitation. He probably would’ve recruited the rest of the ice-cream lovers to pull me off her.
The fruit of meekness allowed me to give glory to God in such a visual way. He witnessed God’s love in action. This act of meekness helped create dialogue about Jesus I wouldn’t have been able to have, had I responded in my flesh. I was able to say to him, we are created to be image-bearers of the Almighty. This was my way (with Jesus) of showing the watching world the light and love of Christ through my actions.
I hope my crazy confession doesn’t lead you to believe meekness is just about letting people scream in your face and responding with kindness. There’s far more substance to meekness than my ice cream parlor miracle. Here are a few ways to help you grow in meekness with your fellow man:
The folly of jumping to conclusions: We never know what someone else is going through from day to day. The person that cuts you off in traffic, could be racing to the hospital to reach a loved one before they take their final breath. The woman screaming at you in the ice cream parlor or laundry mat could have lost everything and will be sleeping in her car tonight. The Bible calls us to regard others better than ourselves (Phil. 2:3). Not easy, I know! However, Proverbs 19:11 teaches us the discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression.
Consider the depth of the forgiveness given to you by Christ: When we’re faced with a hurt inflicted on us by another, we get to frame that experience with grace. Learn to have realistic expectations of others. On this side of heaven people will fail us. True humility comes from the sobering conclusion we all struggle and fall short at times. I have been in my former employee’s shoes; I’ve been the one teeming with rage. We can choose to hold on to the hurt and rage back or we can remember our own shortcomings and imperfections that God has graciously forgiven through Christ.
Surround yourself with others walking in grace, meekness and humility: It is much easier to flourish in meekness when your inner circle leads by example Proverbs 22:24 teaches us to avoid friends that are quick to hold a grudge, and to boil over in anger. 1 Corinthians 15:33 tells us evil company corrupts good morals. Heed the Word of the Lord. Choose friends that don’t add fuel to a fire but helps to calm your soul with good counsel.
Finally, stand firmly on the promises of Christ: The meek shall inherit the earth, letting this scripture move from an intellectual belief to a heart belief will give you encouragement to choose meekness in even the most challenging of situations.
