Matthew 5:5
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
As a kid I played several sports. I wasn't very good, but I tried. As a kid I was in a couple of fights. I wasn't very good, but I tried. I had some typical experiences for guys my age and as a result had some pressures to pursue what others thought manliness and courage was. I watched Chuck Norris, Jean Claude, Arnie and Steven Seagal movies. (Chuck Norris doesn't get wet - the water get's Norrised. He doesn't do pushups - he shoves the earth away from his chest.) I also loved old westerns and war movies then. Oh my goodness, science fiction, sword and sorcerer movies...I was surrounded by "tough guys" and "hard men" all vying for my attention through media and peer pressure and attempting to define for me how I should act and treat others.
Then there was my Dad. He was "The Dad" of all dads. He raced cars and rode motorcycles when he was young. He had a reputation when he was young as someone who was quick to use his fists and was very adept with them. He was a carpenter by trade but decided to go into law enforcement, and when I was a kid he was a cop: a motorcycle-riding, former-tough-guy cop. Yeah, I know, I couldn't get away with anything. Ugh! My Dad also loved Jesus, he cried when he prayed, wept over the pain of others, was broken-hearted over the lostness of his family, friends and co-workers, was always quick to admit when he was wrong and never failed to ask for my forgiveness if he felt as though he had somehow wronged me. Did my Dad become a wimp after he surrendered his life to Jesus? Or did he grow in his understanding of real strength and learn the importance of meekness?
We have been looking at the "Beatitudes" from the "Sermon on the Mount." In the passage quoted above, Jesus points out the importance of meekness in relationship to our inheritance from Him. Isn't meekness just weakness and an excuse for cowards to be wimpy and blame it on the Bible? No, definitely not. I would say that meekness is not weakness at all, but the strength of character to hold your power in reserve when dealing with others, and the wisdom to have humility in your relationship with God.
There is a time to stand up and be counted, a time to be a voice of truth and be courageous when confronted... but how we do that is the mark of maturity and Christ-likeness. Philippians 2:8 says about Jesus; "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." Jesus literally humbled Himself to death, for US. What greater act of courage, what greater demonstration is there of total power totally held back for the sake of others? The Bible talks about the power He could have unleashed to prevent His crucifixion if He chose to, but our salvation would not have been possible if the event of the cross hadn't happened. The path of meekness was the greatest demonstration of love and therefore the greatest demonstration of true power ever exhibited in the universe. Yes, God reveals Himself in creation and shows His power in action, but on the cross, Jesus held that power at bay so our salvation could be possible. He then revealed His power that had been there all the time by walking out of His tomb.
As a kid people tried to tell me that a "real man" or "real woman" put themselves first and was the best at whatever they did no matter who they hurt or what the cost. Jesus on the other hand humbled himself to death. Whose example to follow? James 4:10 says "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." So, should I be concerned with elevating myself above others? I mean, after all, anything I can do to others can easily be undone, but how easy is it to undo something God does? 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us, "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
Humility towards God is tied to the health of our "land" and meekness demonstrates our ability to inherit it once its given. Pride and hubris prevent people from receiving the gifts that God offers, but meekness is the strength to admit how desperately we need Him. From time immemorial people have fought over land and continue to kill to control "chunks of earth." Jesus tells us that ultimately all of that is for nothing because He will gift it to the meek: those who follow Him and are willing to receive what He offers. So others will claim it and nations will fight over it. Though someone else may claim the rights to it for now, and I am now a mere tenant, I will someday be one of the proprietors of this big ball perfectly placed in the universe.