"Now Moses was a very humble [meek] man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth"
(Numbers 12:3).
When we think of Moses we don’t think of a person who was meek, at least not in the modern sense of meekness. There was nothing weak about Moses. He exhibited extraordinary leadership and strength. There was one man, though, who was even meeker than Moses, and that was Jesus Himself. Remember that He said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble [meek and lowly] in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Yet consider how Jesus dealt with the Pharisees. There was certainly nothing weak about it! On another occasion, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Here we see an association of meekness with leadership. What is this meekness, that it is so powerful? One alternative translation for meekness is “gentleness.” It requires great strength to be gentle.
Gentleness is the opposite of abrasiveness, and it flows from that kind of confident strength that is the opposite of arrogance. The man who is secure in his love for God does not need to intimidate but can be kind and meek in his leadership roles.
The man who is meek before God and has that inner strength that enables him to be gentle before men will not be a violent man. This quietness of spirit will enable him to be temperate. A self-controlled or temperate person is not given to binges of excess but lives within restraints.
Thus, the long-term benefit of the fruit of the Spirit is stability. Honoring God through love for Him causes us to rejoice in Christ’s victory, and that provides us with inner peace. Such peace enables us to endure hard times with patience, and this works a spirit of kindness into our personalities. As this happens, our lives become more beautiful in the sense that goodness is beautiful, and we become more faithful and trustworthy. All this inner strength provides stability for our lives.
Who do you know who best evidences the characteristics described today? If possible contact that person this week. Thank them for being a model of meekness and/or self-control to you.
