Teaching from the Mountainside - Pt. 4

 

[Jesus said] “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5 ESV).

 

A new neighbor to our little subdivision recently remarked how he wasn’t used to all the “big equipment” on the small roads since he had just moved from Los Angeles, California. He went on to say that he was certainly acquainted with commuter traffic, but at least he could weave in and out of the six lanes on the freeways to make some time up. He then said, “Out here, the roads are barely wide enough for two cars. When you put one of those big tractors on the road, there’s nowhere to go.” I smiled and simply said (in my best Texas drawl), “Well, I reckon that’s the price of livin’ in the country. And, by the way, when you see those tractors, remember they’re probably going out to get your next meal.” He laughed and said, “You’re way to patient for me.”

 

It’s a little strange that so many of us prefer aggression over meekness and brute force over gentle humility. Jesus insists that under his leadership, aggression is out. Those who are meek and gentle, who are slow to anger and patient in the face of provocation, are truly happy. A meek person doesn’t fuel the fires of conflict with unfair accusations. Being meek means letting your temper chill when you’d rather argue with your spouse. It means showing patience with your children. It means not losing your cool when coworkers repeat their mistakes. This is what the Apostle Paul said:

 

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8 ESV).

 

Meekness is often difficult for us because it seems like weakness. But it’s really about patience and self-control, which require great strength. In going to the cross, Jesus illustrates that the path to great life is through longsuffering love. Jesus was humble and meek for our sake. His humble greatness is what gives us life. His promise in this teaching is that these kinds of people will “inherit the earth” (v. 5). That’s how you keep up with the Jones’.  As we see the beauty of Jesus’ meekness, may we become more like him in all of our lives.