~Posted by: Anna I recently decided I needed to work on humility. (really, who doesn't?) When I went to do so, I discovered that meekness was just as important. So, I spent a few days studying those two traits both with online resources and the Bible each morning. Here's my findings! The thing about meekness is that it's not overly understood. It doesn't have a perfect translation. It's kind of been given the connotation of 'meekness is weakness', since we understand being meek as being too submissive and tame. Not so. Jesus was sinless, and He was meek. He also pronounced a blessing on those that were meek, so obviously, meekness is a strength. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." -Matthew 5:5 Or in Matthew 11:29, Jesus refers to Himself as meek. (some translations say gentle, or humble.) And I probably don't need to convince you that humility is good! Once again, Jesus was the perfect display of humility, and throughout the Bible we're told that the servant is the greatest, that he who exalts himself shall be brought low, that the humble and contrite in spirit is the one God esteems. So humility and meekness are two traits we should strive for. I won't spend any more time on that point. Instead. . . why don't we look at how to strive for those traits, at what they look like in action? When I think of humility, I think of not boasting, of being quiet and gentle, maybe of letting others go first. Meekness, in my mind, would probably be submitting to what other people want and being soft-spoken, etc. It wasn't until I started studying these two words that I realized it's more complicated than that. Since they go hand in hand, we're going to look at them at the same time. First, we'll see how we are to practice humility and meekness toward God. Then, toward other people. First and foremost: we admit just how fallen we are! To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” ~Luke 18:9-14 We far too easily forget just how pathetic and helpless we are. Things are going right, we've got it under control- we aren't dependent on God! But that's not true. We very much are dependent on God, as I'm hoping we all already know or are learning. Admitting to and acknowledging that is a basic but important step toward humility. He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 18:2-4 Children are totally dependent on their parents. We, like children, are to completely admit our weakness, sinfulness, and helplessness before God, realizing that we need Him. In the example of the child, we come to another point- that we submit to God. Parents know what is best for the children, better than the children do. Likewise, God knows better than us what's best. In humility and meekness, having realized that we are dependent on Him and why, we submit. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-- even death on a cross! ~Philippians 2:8 Perhaps a true definition for meekness is to deny self. Instead of looking out for our interests, we lay those aside to serve God. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. ~Matthew 16:24 Selfishness is being focused on our wants, right? Then meekness and humility is being focused on what God wants. This leads us to accept God's will without bitterness or defiance. The fact is, sometimes we find ourselves in circumstances that aren't fun! Sometimes we face hardship, persecution, and grief. When we do, do we blame God, rejecting and resenting Him? No! Because if we are humble, if we are meek, we've already acknowledged our sin. We've acknowledge that we need God. We've acknowledge that He knows what's best. . . how then can we turn around and say "He's doing it wrong!", leaving to try and figure things out on our own? And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. ~Hebrews 12:2-3 When we are truly humble and meek, we've accepted that God really does know what's best. We allow Him to work as He wills in our lives, realizing how great the reward is. Now here's where things get a bit tricky! So Jesus was the perfect example of humility and meekness, right? Well let's look at Matthew 15. . . Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Then the disciples came to Him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” ~Matthew 15:1-13 That's a long one, but here's what I want you to glean from it: Jesus rebukes the Pharisees, pointing out their error. When the disciples say "Hey, Jesus! You kind of offended these guys. . .", does He back down, submitting in meekness and humility and apologizing? No! He says "leave them be". Does that mean Jesus isn't actually humble and meek? Of course not. What it means, is that to be meek isn't to submit to wrong. This isn't the only example like this in the New Testament. How about the time Jesus cleanses the temple by chasing those who sold out? What about all the nice descriptions He had for the Pharisees, such as hypocrites, blind fools, whitewashed tombs? We know Jesus can't contradict Himself, He can't lie. So if we're told He's meek and humble, He's meek and humble. He is perfect, after all. Thus, these things were done in meekness and humility. What does that tell us? That even as humble and meek Christians, we're to resist error and false teaching. If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of meekness. (or gentleness) ~Galatians 6:1 If meekness leads us to ultimate submission to God, than our first priority is His will. That's why it makes sense that we would resist what goes against Him, as Jesus did. Which leads us to part two, meekness and humility toward other people! So we've seen that we're to restore those that are caught in sin, and to do it in meekness. Thus, though humility and meekness in no way stops us from correcting others, it does affect the way we go about it. When we point out wrong to someone, it should never be to belittle them or exalt ourselves. We should never gloat, having found a way in which we're 'better than so-and-so'. Our reason for approaching someone on the topic of a sin we see in their life, etc., should be to restore them, to help them. And that we should do in meekness, gentleness, and humility. And that takes us to: admitting to our own error! That's one we all struggle with. I know I do! How often will we be debating something with someone, only to become aware that we are wrong, yet continue arguing because we aren't willing to be wrong? Does that sound humble? No, it's not humble. That's pride. And I'm as guilty of it as anyone. But humility and meekness requires us to put aside our ego, and admit to being wrong when we are. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. ~2 Timothy 2:24-25 Yet again, this ties in with another aspect of practicing humility and meekness toward other people. What I just said about putting aside our ego? And earlier, when we saw that meekness is to deny self? Well, humility and meekness leads us to honor others over ourselves. I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment. ~Romans 12:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ~Philippians 2:3 Ever been in a group where someone else gets credit that perhaps you deserved as well? Where you were overlooked? That's a tough situation to be in. Let's face it- we all like to be recognized, complimented, admired. But the fact is, humility is being willing to let others have the glory. It's being willing to do the job that needs done, but won't get any applause. What's another thing we can get from that? It's our nature to notice faults in other people, and strengths in ourselves. We all do it. It's far easier to see the flaw in that person's character rather than that in your own. But, once again, that certainly isn't humility. To be humble and meek is to not exalt yourself, and to put others first. That's why we're to appreciate the good qualities in others, and acknowledge our own downfalls, not the other way around. Remember how we're to submit to God's will, placing that above our own desires? That goes for people, too. The greatest among you shall be your servant. ~Matthew 23:11 Though it's hard, we are called to be servants, not have them. In a way, this sounds easy. It's not. It implies an entire attitude of putting others before yourself. Your wants, your needs, your interests, you in general; all come second to the wants, needs, and interests of others. Jesus could have been a king, royalty when He came to earth as a man. He could have had servants and expensive stuff and whatever else He wanted. But He served. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. ~Mark 10:45 This also kind of goes with submission to authority. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ~Romans 13:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ~Ephesians 6:1 Here are two examples of where we are told to submit to authority ordained by God. Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. ~Titus 3:1-2 Finally, humility and meekness leads us to work for peace and harmony, in two primary ways. First, that we submit for the good of the group. Once again, this ties back to honoring others, that sort of thing. For the sake of peace and unity, because of the love and grace we have in Christ, and in humility and meekness, we set aside our own interests for the good of the group. Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ~Philippians 2:2-4 Secondly, that we forgive. The humble person doesn't retaliate, they aren't after revenge. We remember our own sins and wrongs, instead of presuming ourselves better than so-and-so and holding something over them. Pride and grudges go hand in hand, as do humility/meekness and forgiveness. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ~Colossians 3:12-13 Alright, I won't make this any longer with a drawn out conclusion. :) Instead, I'd like to just end with two final thoughts on what humility and meekness are. The rule for the truly humble and meek person is: God first, others second, self last.
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