Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Many people think meekness means weakness. They imagine someone who cowers down in the presence of strong personalities, someone who lacks the confidence to speak up for themselves. This concept of meekness is not biblical.
Meekness is patience when someone has treated you wrong. It does not surrender its will, but it does not show any sudden anger or malice toward the offender. Meekness does not hold a grudge. Meekness forgives and seeks to forget the offense because that is how God treats us.
Meekness trusts God to take vengeance where it is due. The meek believe God will repay as he sees fit (Romans 12:19). A meek person can love those who offend them. They understand the offender is hurting themselves far worse than they are hurting them. The meek person pities the person in this situation. They trust God to take care of it all.
Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
Meekness produces peace. It ignores the little insults because this person has a heart that cannot be moved by pettiness. This person has chosen, as some say, to “take the high road.”
The person who is not meek but seeks their own vengeance gets upset at little insults. They always have a chip on their shoulder. This person is doomed for misery. They have chosen to be at the mercy of anyone who is unkind or insulting.
In Matthew 5:5, we are told, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” There is a reward for the meek.
Meekness is not weakness, but it is power under control!
Are you meek? Test yourself. What does it take for you to get upset or bent out of shape? Can you be a peacemaker and overlook little insults? Do you feel you have rights, and no one is going to violate them? If the answer is yes to any of these, you need to check your meekness thermometer. It is probably very low on the meekness scale.
