Blessed are the Meek 1-29-20
By Dr. Jim Riley
CCDC Message in the Beatitudes 1-29-2020
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
Matthew 5:5
This third Beatitude is an Another Amazing unbelievable statement by Jesus.
Recall the first two beatitude that Jesus gave. They seem unbelievable!
It sounds at first crazy what Jesus was saying. How can those who are poor and those who mourn feel blessed?
How are the meek blessed? Makes no sense!
Like those who admit their poor and those who mourn, the meek have the blessing of God. God is on their side!! Although outwardly their circumstances are not good, they have the potential for being blessed by God.
We need to know that meekness is something positive not negative.
What Meekness is not:
- It is not cowardice. When I was in the 7th grade I went to the school carnival and accidentally bumped into a guy who really got angry and wanted to beat me up. He couldn’t do it at the carnival so he tried to get me after school, but I didn’t want to fight him. Not because I was meek, but because I was scared of him. I was able to avoid his attempts for several weeks until one day in the lunchroom he came after me and we fought in front of everyone. He thought he got me but we both ended up in the principal’s office and both got detention.
- It is not weakness. To be meek means resisting retaliation and vengeance. It takes inner strength. Paul says, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
- It is not spiritless. It is not becoming despondent, downcast or intimidated by our circumstances .Paul says, “God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” We have the Holy Spirit given to us to stand up to adversity and difficulties.
Those who are meek have three advantages :
- Allow themselves to be humble, not a tough guy. If we look at Jesus, we do not see in the Gospels a wimp. He is strong in the face of his accusers and adversaries. He never backs down to anyone. He goes about with a powerful meekness that refuses to retaliate or do any harm to his enemies. He never retaliates those who attack Him. In fact, he goes meekly to the cross and dies on the cross even for those who crucified him.
- Allow themselves to care more for others. The meek are not consumed by their own selfish needs but look beyond themselves to the needs of others. Mother Teresa is a great model of meekness in her years of selflessly giving to the lepers and the poor in India.
- Allow themselves to find their strength in God. MLK Jr was an incredible man of faith who withstood the opposition of his enemies and risked his life through his nonviolent civil rights movement. His incredible meekness in the face of racial hatred and violence was a powerful force that changed the country.
When we allow ourselves to become meek we receive God’s inheritance.
What is God’s inheritance? Jesus says the meek inherit the earth.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;” Psalms 24:1
God’s inheritance provides us three things
- God will take care of us. Jesus says don’t worry about food and clothing.
- God will take care of the future. Jesus says don’t worry about tomorrow.
- God will take care of our loved ones. Jesus says that God watches over with his angels all little ones.
This results in our ability to stand strong for others.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand
against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11
Mother Teresa said, “If you are humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are.”
I add that specifically, “You know you are a child of God!” Meekness before God brings that kind of confidence.