COOL, CALM & CORRECTED     by Carl McMurray 

                One of Matthew’s beatitudes, not mentioned in Luke, is chapter 5:5.  “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.”  In a high-pressure, high-powered, fast-paced America, I wonder if we really take the time to understand passages like this.

              What does “meek” mean?  Does it mean that we must quietly accept insults and injustices with unlimited patience?  Does it mean we are never to speak up and defend ourselves?  Are we to be doormats?  Not objecting to people’s prejudices?  Not correcting lest we hurt a feeling?  Always allowing ourselves to be trampled over by unthinking and/or ignorant men?  If you examine the lives of Jesus, Paul, and others of the Lord’s disciples, you would not find the above descriptions being played out.

                Truly, “meek” is not a good translation in terms of modern usage. This is why most translations have gone to terms like “humble” or “gentle” that better bring across the original meaning.  The “meekness” that Jesus refers to might better be described as “strength under control.”  The one who is “meek” is one who is…

                M – ighty.  Yes, that’s right, mighty!  Who is the stronger one, he who is ruled by his emotions, gives in to anger, becomes verbally or physically abusive...or, the one who reins in his feelings so he can deal properly with the needs of the moment, being a help rather than a hindrance to the situation?  The mighty are those that know tender young plants can be torn out with the weeds so strength must be controlled.

                There is great strength and power in an explosion.  It is fearful and people back away from it. Explosive people are often looked at as fearful and strong, but like an actual explosion, when the smoke clears, there is usually more destruction than anything else. More powerful than the explosion is the one who can set their shoulders to the harness and plow ground rather than blow holes in it. Day in and day out, in cold or sun, in hard ground or soft, through roots and rocks, this powerful process of turning and cultivating goes on. And while the crowd is drawn to the explosion, it is the quiet, mighty ones in the next field who are really accomplishing things.

                The meek one is E – motionally stable.  They keep their impulses in check.  They are not governed by emotion.  They have the divine poise to stop and put their trust in God so as not to fall prey to discouragement and depression.  They will not quit simply because something has become unexpectedly difficult. In fact, they expect setbacks and they prepare their feelings ahead of time to deal with them.

               They also are not distracted by the flashes and sparks of excitement.  They reserve their inner excitement for worthwhile pursuits and accomplishing real goals.  Thus they will not be drained financially, physically, or morally so that they are unable to serve the Lord wholly.  They are more interested in substance than style and as such they stick to their objectives.
 
               The meek are E – ducable.  They are learners, teachable.  Humility is NOT saying, “I’m a loser,” or “I can’t do it.”  Real humility says, “Others can teach me and I can always do better.”  Real humility can also say, “I was wrong, I’m sorry, will you forgive me and let me try again?”  The “meek” are more interested in doing something right than in doing it “their own way.”
               
                Meek people are open (not operating on a hidden agenda), correctable (able to be approached, gentle, and not defensive) and educable (teachable, not of the opinion that their way is always right).
         
              Lastly, we point out that the meek Jesus speaks of are K – ind.  The truly meek person is Mighty, Emotionally stable, Educable, and Kind.  Without kindness, all you have is MEE – self-centered, arrogant and doomed to failure.  MEE is an unhappy attitude.  Jesus said we need to be MEEK.

                The kind soul is the one who is sensitive to others. People are very tender when they are insecure, lonely, hurting, grieving, or trying something outside their familiar activities.  Blessed and valuable to the Lord are those souls who are not caught up in life’s rat race so tightly that they can’t slow down and enfold the tender spirit of another into their protective care.

                Kind people are sensitive spirits.  They are usually quiet people who work without fanfare or men’s recognition.  They are people who have learned the real joy and satisfaction of being third!  They understand the formula of Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last = JOY.  They have taken to themselves the image of Christ, the servant.

                Cursed are the cocky, the arrogant, and the boastful for they will have few friends.  Unhappy are the crowding, elbowing, get-out-of-my-way, I’m first bullies.  Headed for failure and embarrassment are the know-it-alls.  Doomed are the hot heads.  Unhappy are those too proud to say I’m sorry.

                Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.