ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT – The BEATITUDES
Text: Matthew 5:1-12
Part 3 – Meekness -The Way to Happiness - Matthew 5:5
Key Verse: "Blessed [happy] are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5).
Can you truly be meek & happy at the same time?
Can you picture a meek person who is also a happy person?
You probably find it rather challenging.
Our misunderstanding of meekness creates this difficulty.
In a world that thinks only an aggressive, outgoing, hardworking
person can get ahead in life, it is hard to believe that those who are
meek will inherit anything, -- much less the earth!
Yet Jesus upheld meekness as the way to happiness. Matthew 5:5
"Blessed [happy] are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth"
If anyone knows human nature & what it takes to make a person
happy, Jesus Christ is that person.
He did not imply that being fearful or weak brings happiness.
Instead, Jesus referred to attitude or outlook. The meekness Jesus
described requires us to be strong people who are grounded in Christ.
It demands us to have a personal relationship with God.
This kind of meekness inevitably brings happiness.
Meekness is the way to happiness for several reasons.
1. Meekness maintains an even temperament.
Aristotle defined meekness as ‘the mean between two extremes’-intense
anger & excessive indifference.
It is the happy medium between too much anger & too little passion.
Bible Commentator, William Barclay suggested that this Beatitude be
translated, "Blessed is the man [person] who is always angry at the
right time, & never angry at the wrong time."
When is the right time to be angry?
When insult or injury is suffered by others, not ourselves.
But how can we develop this even temperament?
How can we avoid the extremes of severe anger or apathy?
We can’t! But God can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.
So how does God give us an even temperament?
a. Through salvation; before all else we must be born again.
b. Through the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.
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Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in
our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, & self-control. There is no law against
these things!"
2. Meekness develops self-control.
The word used for meekness has a second meaning.
Often it was used to express the idea of "self-control."
For instance, an animal that otherwise would have been wild but had
been made a house pet was called meek. The animal had learned to
respond favorably to commands & to behave properly.
Therefore, the beatitude could easily be translated,
"Blessed are they who are entirely self-controlled."
In our culture (especially among men) “Meekness means Weakness.”
But it is not true!! Weakness is giving in to the worst that is in you.
Meekness is mastery over it. Personally, my favorite definition for
Meekness is: “Strength Under Control!”
To be meek does not mean that you are cowardly, but it does mean
that you are strong enough not to retaliate when wrongly treated.
Having their rights, those who are meek do not insist on them.
Possessing great ability, those who are meek do not flaunt it. They
would rather forgive than accuse.
Such self-control results in peace with oneself. Those who cannot
control their anger, greed, lust, tongue, or ambition will never be
at peace within. They will constantly be at war with themselves.
3. Meekness expresses itself through gentleness.
A third meaning of the Greek word for meekness tells us something
else about this quality of a happy life. Meekness may be translated
"kindness" or "gentleness." The concept of a man being a gentleman
was born in the Christian faith. He is a man who is gentle, courteous,
& considerate. Meekness & gentleness are characteristics of a strong,
not weak, person. Therefore…
A. Gentleness is considerate of others.
Galatians 6:1 says, “Dear brothers & sisters, if another believer is
overcome by some sin, you who are spiritual should gently &
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humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful
not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”
[PAUSE]
B. Gentleness admits faults to others.
James 5:16 advises, "Confess your faults one to another."
Proud, arrogant, or insecure people can never bring themselves to do
this. However, meek, gentle, & secure individuals have courage to
admit their mistakes to others. Benjamin Franklin asserted, "None but
the well-bred man knows how to confess a fault or acknowledge
himself in error." Humble people bravely admit their shortcomings,
which leads to happiness for all involved.
C. Gentleness encourages others. Paul encourages us in
Titus 3:2 "They must not slander anyone & must avoid quarreling.
Instead, they should be gentle & show true humility to everyone.”
As long as you maximize others’ faults while minimizing your own, you
can never be happy.
D. Gentleness learns from others.
Gentle people are apt to learn. They accept criticism & are always
eager to listen both to God & others; as a result, they learn much &
tend to grow in their spiritual maturity. Those who demonstrate
meekness are happy.
4. Meekness is assured of victory.
Jesus said of those who are meek, "They shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5)
This truth is affirmed many times throughout the Bible.
Listen to these 4 passages from Psalms where the Hebrew word for
meek is “anavim” (pronounced ah’-nah-veem) which translates as ‘meek
ones’ or ‘humble ones’ or ‘afflicted ones.’
Psalm 37:10-11: “In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
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But the meek shall inherit the land & delight themselves in
abundant peace.
Psalm 22:26a: "The afflicted shall eat & be satisfied."
Psalm 25:9: "He leads the humble in what is right, & teaches
the humble His way. "
Psalm 147:6: “The LORD helps the afflicted but brings the wicked to
the ground.”
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It is significant that Jesus said the meek shall "inherit," not ’capture,"
the earth. An inheritor is a receiver, not an aggressor.
God in His providence has structured the world so the meek are
certain to inherit it.
"Meekness is so hard to develop," you say.
You are right. I can’t tell myself to be meek & thus become meek.
God never intended for us to be able to make ourselves meek.
It is just not our nature. But what we cannot do for ourselves God
does for us-first through salvation & then continuing his work through
the daily infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Have you been born again into a transforming relationship with Christ?
Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to fill you?
When you do, the wonderful quality of meekness will be yours,
because you will be surrendered & thus transformed into a
“New Creation in Christ”, & it is then, that you will enter into the way
to happiness!
In closing, listen to “The MESSAGE” Bible translation our key text today.
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no
more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners
of everything that can’t be bought.” (Matthew 5:5)
…May this be so for you…
…Let’s Pray…
Next Week we will continue our Series with Part 4 –
“Hunger & Thirst - The Way to Happiness” - Matthew 5:6
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