Introduction:

Who shall inherit the earth? Ask the typical person on the street and they would probably respond, "A strong aggressive leader. Back before the Gulf War, but after he had already taken control of Kuwait many would have probably mentioned Saddam Hussein. Now he stands trial for terrible atrocities against his own people. The illusive Osama Bin Laden is thought of as another aggressive leader.

Nearly 2000 years ago Jesus taught, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Jesus was born in Bethlehem when much of the then known world was under Roman conquest. Of course, history prior to that time and since then has recorded example after example of leaders and nations with military strength conquering other lands. With this in mind how could Jesus speak these words with authority, "Blessed are the Meek, for they shall inherit the earth."? To answer this question we must consider the word, MEEK.

I. Distinguished

Many today equate meekness with weakness, thinking of the meek person as a doormat who lets everyone walk over him or her. In our society today, meekness is seldom looked upon as a desirable personality trait since we know that the big wheeler dealer is the person who gets ahead. Many live by the philosophy, "Look out for number one." and they are number one. Or, "Get ahead by intimida­tion." One woman put it this way, "I want to climb the ladder of success and I don't care whose fingers I step on as I climb up the rungs." The modern business man or woman, the would be corporate executive would not likely be inclined to strive for meekness reaching for the top. Even in the local church some would not recommend meekness as the means of moving ahead for Christ.

Is Jesus pronouncing a special blessing on the weak, the feeble, the frail, and the fragile? Is this a blessing for those who are mild mannered with good dispositions?

While our Lord is certainly concerned about the weak and feeble I don't believe that was what Jesus was trying to communicate in these instructions for His children. Nor do all Christians, by nature, have a mild manner. What Jesus said in this beatitude would not likely be how we would pursue happiness. For us to understand Jesus' teaching, Meekness must be distinguished from the world's perspective. Let’s move on to meekness:

II. Defined

Look up the word, meekness in your dictionary and you see words like: mild, submissive, and compliant. Here is precisely part of our problem - this word - meekness does not mean quite the same thing as it did years ago.

William Barclay wrote: "In our modern English idiom, the word meek is hardly one of the honourable words of lief. Nowadays it carries with it an idea of spinelessness and subservience, and mean-spiritedness. It paints the picture of a submissive and ineffective creature. But it so happens that the word meek - in Greek, praus - was one of the great Greek ethical words."

Barclay continued, "It is the regular word for an animal which has been domesticated, which has been trained to obey the word of command, which has learned to answer to the reins. It is the word for an animal which has learned to accept control."

Barclay also suggests the meekness speaks of humility. A. W. Pink stresses this definition of meekness, as humility, lowly of heart. This also seems appropriate in the progression of the beatitudes: First, Poverty of spirit; Second, Mourning, including over sin; Then humbleness of soul.

This meekness, gentleness, humility before God produces great strength. Read II Corinthians 10:3-5. For though we live in the world we are not carrying on a world war, for the weapons of our warfare are not worldly, but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Again we notice that in the Bible, meekness does not denote weakness. Dr Schuller depicts meek with an acronym.
M   ighty
E   motionally Stable
E   ducable
K   ind

I read the story of Linda Downs that illustrated mighty to me. She is a licensed social worker with a master's degree. This woman with cerebral palsy participated in the 1982 New York City Marathon, going 26.2 miles on crutches.

She said, "I guess I just wanted to do it very badly. And I figured that no one really expected me to get more than two feet, so however far I got would be a success for me. I didn't know at the beginning if I'd be able to make it all the way to the end but I made a promise that God could take me as far as He wanted me to go and I would keep going until I just couldn't stop. And we made it! It took me eleven hours and fifty-four seconds to finish the marathon. That's a record I don't think anybody's going to break for a while!

Donald Anderson agrees that meekness includes being teachable. Are you children and youth open to learning the things of God? Are those of us beyond our teens still teachable? What about you? Are you willing to be taught? Are you willing to actively participate in Sunday School, Bible Studies, Worship, and Prayer Groups where God may teach you? Are you willing to take part in special opportunities for spiritual growth, or do you pass that off as for someone other than you?

III. Demonstrated

Billy Graham wrote: "Jesus did not say, 'Be meek and you shall inherit the earth.' He, more than anyone else knew that meekness was a gift of God, a result of a rebirth, a new life within."

Take Moses, for example. While he was meek, he was not meek by nature. In Numbers 12:3 we find the word meek used pointing out a contrast in the pride, self seeking, craving for honor, and haughtiness of Aaron and Miriam speaking against Moses. On the other hand we read, "Now the man Moses was very meek." The writer to the Hebrews also points out this meekness and humility, turning his back on worldly honors and riches, choosing the wild­erness rather than the palace.

Matthew has been described as a suave, tricky politician, who knew the political ropes well enough to keep from dangling from one of them by the neck. With God's grace, this agent of the govern­ment became a meek agent of the Lord.

What about Peter? I would hardly call him meek by nature. Remember that he cut off the ear of a soldier who came to arrest Jesus and later that night became very angry when accused of being a disciple of Jesus. This man became a meek and a very strong man for Jesus Christ. With his diverted energies he helped lead a movement that changed the world.

Consider Paul. Certainly he was not meek before his conversion. He could have been described as proud, bigoted, selfish, boastful, and violent. God transformed his life. With passion and love for the Lord he boldly proclaimed the Good News across the miles. He was also used by God to pen much of the New Testament, including writing on the fruit of the spirit, which of course includes meekness.

Conclusion:

Certainly Jesus set the example of meekness for us. He was spat upon, stripped, ridiculed, despised and was led as a lamb to the slaughter. Jesus was forgiving; even to those who hung him on the cross and when He said, “It is finished,” He knew that He had completed the task His Father had given to Him. Today He lives as the greatest example of meekness. Henry Kemp penned these words of contrast as we think of those who we might think could inherit the earth.

I saw the conqueror riding by
With cruel lip and faces wan:
Musing on kingdoms sacked and burned
There rode the Mongol Genghis Khan.
And Alexander, like a God,
Who sought to weld the world in one;
And Caesar with his laurel wreath;
And like a thing from Hell-the Hun;
And leading like a star the van,
Heedless of outstretched arm and groan,
Inscrutable Napoleon went
Dreaming of empire and alone…
Then all perished from the earth
As fleeting shadows from a glass,
And, conquering down the centuries,
Came Christ, the Swordless, on an ass!

Are you meek, like Christ? Then with Him, you will inherit the earth.

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