Meekness is not weakness

Constantine Murefu clearly explained the meaning of the word meekness in his book Biblical Foundation for Believers. In short he said, “Meekness is an inward grace extending both toward God and fellow humans.
“Meekness is not weakness, but is willing acceptance of a greater will than our own, that brings us into harmony with the universe as God plans it. It is surrender to all the will of God. It is power under control, power rightly channeled.
“Meekness sees God as the defence and the need to strive for defence is eliminated.” Just because meekness is similar to mildness or gentleness it is often mistaken for weakness. Yet nothing could be further from the truth than saying that meekness is just the same as weakness. The two are worlds apart. Weakness is lack of strength. But meekness is strength, though under control. In a sense it is consciously and graciously allowing yourself to suffer pain, disadvantage or loss because of other people’s sinful behavior fully trusting the Almighty God to vindicate you in His own way and time. Rather than defending yourself or trying to explain things so you could prove your innocence or ability to ‘go mad’ you surrender everything to the will of God.
A meek person would suffer injustice or endure maltreatment for the sake of maintaining a close relationship with the gracious God rather than “getting mad” or seek to revenge.
The strength of meekness lies in committing one’s cause into the hands of God. Meekness allows you to experience the power of God that is made perfect in weakness. Perhaps you are in a situation that is ‘causing your blood to boil”. You helped someone who was in a desperate situation but they pay you evil for good. You lent someone money but they are not paying back. You do everything possible to please your wife but she remains ungrateful. You constantly warn him of STIs but he is relentless in promiscuity. You are sick and tired of your employer’s empty promises. The pastor seems to greet everybody else but you.
You are being provoked to anger. And you are thinking of telling them off or engaging them in some physical combat or lawsuit.
Doing that may be appealing to your sense of rightness but it will not resolve your conflicts completely. Why not heap burning coals of fire upon their head by overcoming evil with good? Aggressiveness is good in business ventures but not in building human relations. Meekness is usually the solution. The philosopher who said that 10 percent of our problems is a result of what happens to us and 90 percent is a result of how we react to what happens to us may have had the virtue of meekness in mind.    
Meekness is a part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23). It is an essential part of good character. In fact, meekness is a stabilising factor in personal relationships. It works like oil that reduces friction between people of differing temperaments. A person with a hot temper will react angrily and cause more harm than good. But a meek person has a mild temper and will respond gently to negative, provoking statements or actions. He or she keeps a cool head.
The Lord Jesus was such a person. He had power to raise the dead, to cast out a legion of devils and to multiply five loaves of bread and feed five thousand men. Yet when his opponents hurled insults directly on Him he did not retaliate. He had the power to call down 12 legions of angels from God to fight for Him but he would not do that because he wanted the purpose of God to prevail. He could fight but would not. Yes, that was meekness in operation. It is written of Him, “When he suffered, he made no threats.”
Suffering may help us learn something but it definitely reveals our character. If we are not meek, we lash out at everybody in our suffering and we will pass the blame on others. But the meek one believes in the law of first cause. This law attributes everything that happens to us to God’s will and purpose and regard any second cause involved as under God’s control and influence.
When you begin to seek meekness, you will begin to see positively in all that happens to you. And you will find the beatitude true that says, ‘Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.”
l For prayer and counseling call 0772889766 or email mairos78@yahoo.co.uk