Meekness

by G. Prasher, Manchester, England | Category: Christian Living | Jun 1991

There are two outstanding examples of meekness in Holy Scripture: the perfect example of our Lord Jesus Christ who said, "I am meek and lowly in heart" (Mat. 11:29), and the example of Moses described in Scripture as the meekest man in all the earth.

These two examples help us to understand the true nature of meekness. Perhaps we tend to think of a meek person as a weak, pliable character. Obviously that was not true of the Lord Jesus or of Moses: what then is meant by the meekness of Christ or by Moses being the meekest man in all

the earth in his day? It means first a spirit of subjection to the authority and will of God, a yieldingness to Him without complaint. In relationships with others a meek person is not self-assertive. He is not concerned with his personal importance: he can therefore show gentleness to others in the face of provocation. Indeed one would need to be strong spiritually to show true meekness; this was seen to perfection in Christ and to an outstanding degree in Moses.

It is in Numbers 12:3 that we read:

Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.

It is in this very passage that his meekness is illustrated. His brother and sister, Aaron and Miriam, were both senior to Moses in age. On this occasion they had criticized him harshly regarding the person he had married and the degree of authority concentrated in his control. Moses did not react against them in a hostile way, but left the matter with the Lord, and God vindicated Moses in a remarkable fashion. Aaron and Miriam were rebuked by God and Miriam was smitten with leprosy as evidence of God's displeasure and chastisement. With typical meekness Moses pleaded with God for her restoration: "Heal her, 0 God, I beseech Thee" he prayed (v.13). He bore her no malice for her misguided criticism.

But what can we say when we consider the meekness of Christ? He who:

when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously (1 Pet. 2:23).

Enduring the gainsaying of sinners against Himself, He endured the Cross and despised the shame (Heb. 12:2,3).

Holy Saviour, meekly enduring sorrow,

Crowned with thorns that cruelly pierced His brow;

Once for us rejected, despised and forsaken,

Prince of Glory, He is triumphant now.

Our Lord is glorified in triumph; but His word comes to you and me:

Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Mat. 11:29).

Meekness should be one of the outstanding features of our Christian character.

In his epistles Paul stressed the importance of meekness. To Timothy he wrote: "But thou, 0 man of God, follow after ... meekness" (1 Tim. 6:11). There is perhaps no more honourable description than to he called a man of God. In those whom God so describes meekness will surely be seen. Writing to the Colossians Paul uses different imagery when he exhorts: "Put on therefore ... meekness" (3:12). Those who have put off the old man with his doings have put on the new man. The new man will display meekness. It will be seen as part of his spiritual apparel. Then to the Galatians Paul wrote: "The fruit of

the Spirit is... meekness" (5:22,23). If in the believer the gracious activity of the Spirit is not hindered He will produce fruit to God's glory: a precious part of that fruit is meekness.

We see then that there is presented to each disciple of Christ the desirability of meekness as being before him as an objective, on him as a distinguishing part of his spiritual clothing, and in him, springing up through the power of the Divine Spirit.

We should be prepared to receive correction in meekness. James wrote:

Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls (1:21).

Softened hearts and yielding spirits will enable us to receive the correcting power and saving influence of the implanted word. Subjection to God means subjection to His Word. Sometimes we may lose the benefit of godly correction because we lack the meekness to accept it.

The Christian should sanctify in his heart Christ as Lord. The authority of the Lord will determine attitudes and actions which may call for explanation. Others may question us as to our reasons for our life-style in following Christ. We must be ready to give answer to any who ask about our hope in Him, yet with meekness and fear (1 Pet. 3:15). Our Christian witness may lose much of its effectiveness if we seem militant and proud.

From his prison in Rome Paul wrote to the Church in Ephesus, urging the disciples to:

walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love (4:2,3).

It is often easier for us to serve as individualists rather than as a team. But it is clearly God's intention that we should be united with others in His service; indeed much of the Lord's will can only be carried out in fellowship with others. When our service together is "with all lowliness and meekness" we shall enjoy a harmony otherwise impossible.

In our daily contact with those in the world who make no profession of Christ we shall often meet with abrasive 'situations. How would the Lord wish His followers to be seen in the world? A lovely impression will be given by complying with Titus 3:

Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work, to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, shewing all meekness toward all men (vv. 1,2).

That is how our Saviour intends us to be. We may be misrepresented or misunderstood; unscrupulous people make take advantage of us; meekness may be severely tested, but its manifestation must triumph for all who are concerned to please the Lord. The strengthening promise stands:

The meek will He guide in judgement: and the meek will He teach His way (Ps. 25:9).

G. Prasher, Manchester, England | Jun 1991
Christian Living