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Morning Thoughts |
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Matthew 5:5, "Blessed are the meek: for
they shall inherit the earth."
This morning, the Christian
virtues of the Bible are not just becoming less commonplace in practice,
but more and more people do not know exactly what they are. Today, if
you asked someone what charity is, they would likely respond that it is
a benefit of some kind: raising money for some cause, or hosting an
event to promote the cause. When asked about love, they would likely
give some sort of emotional definition full of squishy feelings that
somehow equates to love. Love and charity are both sacrificial action
that puts others ahead of self. Emotion oftentimes attends the action,
but the virtue is in the action not the emotion. The Christian virtue
of meekness is something the many today would not even be able to define
or spot as it is becoming increasingly alien and foreign to the general
consciousness of society.
Our study verse is found in
the midst of a passage of Scripture commonly referred to as the
Beatitudes from Christ's Sermon on the Mount. He references many things
that people will be blessed to perform with a promised outcome for that
behavioral import. Those that hunger and thirst after righteousness
have the promise of being filled. Peacemakers are blessed with the
promise of being called the children of God. Our verse gives the
blessing and promised outcome for the meek in this world. Therefore,
for us to experience this blessing, we need to know what meekness is,
how to properly use it, and then have a proper understanding of what to
expect from God's promise.
Meekness is defined in many
ways, but two of the most beneficial definitions (from faithful sources
like a Webster's 1828 and other places) can be summed up as: 1.
quietness of spirit and 2. humility of soul. These two definitions show
that meekness is more of an inward sense rather than an outward
display. In this sense, meekness is what the inside looks like for
someone who displays gentleness on the outside. Gentleness is an
outward calmness, whereas meekness is inward calmness. One of the
treasures of the 1828 Webster's is the final sentence in the segment on
the definition of "meekness." It says, "Meekness is a grace which Jesus
alone inculcated, and which no ancient philosopher seems to have
understood or recommended."
Now knowing what meekness
is, how do we approach or put our arms around the promise to the meek to
"inherit the earth?" One of the hardest things about this phrase to
reconcile - for me at least - is the fact that this world is not the
home for the child of God, yet this verse talks about us inheriting
something. It is for this reason that I have heard some far out
explanations of this verse, but the heart of the answer to the question
is found in I Timothy 6:17. Paul encourages Timothy to exhort people
not to trust in this world or the things in it but in God. Paul
finishes the verse by talking about one of the things the Living God has
done for us. He has given us all things richly to enjoy. When we
understand the meaning of that expression, we get a good sense of what
the manifestation of the promise to the meek is, and we then see how the
pitfalls to take away our meek and quiet spirit strip this promise as
well.
When God made the natural
creation, He put things in the creation that were meant to be enjoyed.
It is true that food from this planet nourishes and sustains our bodies,
but God did more than that. He gave us a natural instinct to enjoy the
process of eating. Sleep is something the body needs, but God designed
people to actually enjoy the process. Families in function help keep a
species propagated, but God gave us families to enjoy in the sense of
relation, fellowship, society, etc. When it comes to this planet and
the naturally created things, why is it that man has such a fascination
with something like a waterfall? It is simply water flowing over a rock
near the edge of a large elevation drop. Why is it that we enjoy
sights, sounds, and smells from nature? Why is it that something as
crude as eating could be so highly enjoyed? The answer to all these
situations is that God has given us all things richly to enjoy. We are
built and designed to enjoy them. Not only are they good for us, but He
has given the instinct that takes delight in them too.
In a natural sense, this is
man's inheritance here. As God's last and special of all creations, man
was given a fully formed, developed, and fit place to which he was
naturally designed. Solomon repeatedly throughout the book of
Ecclesiastes refers to man's life, works, etc. as "his portion."
Naturally speaking, God designed us this way, and we have the ability as
his special creation and stewards over this world to richly enjoy these
lives - completely in keeping with the dictates and rules He has
established. However, just like natural heirs can forgo or forfeit
their birthright, so can natural man not enjoy this life that God has
given us unless meekness rules within.
Have you ever watched the
sad behavior of someone that was so torn up inside that they either
could not eat or did not enjoy eating? Perhaps their sleep departed
from them. Work was a burden rather than a joy. Church was a duty
rather than a love. No matter what was before them, they did not enjoy
it. The inner turmoil that we sometimes fall into will keep us from
enjoying what God created for us to enjoy. If my mind and spirit are
disquieted within me, I can lose the ability for a season to enjoy the
company of my family. I may be in their presence, but I have not been
able to enjoy the situation due to the lack of meekness within.
Whenever someone is on the other end of the spectrum from overmuch
sorrow - haughtiness - the same outcome is affected. Consider the
mindset of a prideful man. Food is never good enough. The job does not
pay enough. No one else is smart enough. And so the list proceeds.
They cannot enjoy the things of life or the people in their life due to
the suffocating nature that ego brings about.
Meekness is the only mindset
and constancy that is suitable ground and prepared soil for our lives to
experience living rather than just existing. Truly, if we are breathing
and walking around, we have life, but only if we have the quiet, calm
constancy of soul and humility of spirit do we experience what it is
like to really be living. When Christ spoke this, He was actually
quoting directly from Psalm 37:11. The entire Psalm is worthy of
careful and deliberate consideration to a disciple of Christ today.
There are many good encouragements and warnings that are as fresh and
vital today as they ever have been. However, the tone of the Psalm is
really set in the first verse when the Psalmist encourages the child of
grace not to fret over evildoers or become envious of the workers of
iniquity.
What are those two behaviors
if not the polar opposite of meekness? When the problems of the world
make us fret, we lose that quiet spirit, and rather, we feel a roaring
within. When we become envious of those around us, we lose that
humility of soul, and rather, we feel bitter all the time. Bitterness
and trouble will make food taste bad. They will also rob the moments of
joy that we can have each and every day that we live. We lose our
inheritance to such things, and the existence of life occurs without
real living. Too many times, I have forgotten that each day is a
miracle from His almighty hand. Each rising out of bed is a mercy, and
the bed to own and use is a blessed comfort. Food - while necessary -
is a joy from Him, family is a blessing beyond compare, and the
spiritual plane of His church and the fellowship of His family is the
highest of all highs in this world. These items are both necessary for
my life and/or commandments for my duty. However, I would rather live
in the enjoyment of these things than in the necessity of these things.
Today, there is much to rob
the child of God's attention and affection. However, no matter what the
evildoers say, do not fret friend. No matter what the workers of
iniquity seem to have in this world, look not upon those uncertain
riches. Let us trust completely, wholly, and devotedly in the Living
God. Look at how much He has not only done for us but given us. Let us
enjoy it. Let us enjoy this life to the fullness of His glory. Each
day of rising in the morning should be accompanied with, "Thank you Lord
for another day. What wilt Thou have for me to do for You today?"
Whatever that thing or things may be, let us do it heartily as unto the
Lord (Colossians 3:23), for that is our daily inheritance to be enjoyed
only in the meekness and quietness of soul.
In Hope, Bro Philip |