The Happiness Series: Part III

The Happiness Series: Part III
By Pastor Kent Munsey
March 7, 2021

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

• Matthew 5:5 (NIV)

In continuation of our series on the Beatitudes, we are focusing on Matthew 5:5, which says, “blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Meek is not a word that we use often in our culture today. Translated in Greek, “meek” means strength under control. A simple definition would be that meek is not weak. When we look throughout scripture, there are several examples that can help us understand what it means to be meek. 

In the Old Testament, we learn that Moses was the meekest man in all the earth (Numbers 12). When this was said, Moses was eighty; however, Moses was not always meek. When Moses was forty, he was educated in Pharaoh's house at the highest level, with the highest degrees. Moses would have been trained in the military, so he would have been very strong. He was in the prime of his life when he was forty. Although Moses was raised in Egypt, he was an Israelite by blood. 

When we are meek, we have strength that is under control. According to the scriptures, when we have spiritual strength that is under control, then we will be happy. When Moses is forty, he experienced internal conflict when he came upon an Egyptian guard. Moses witnessed the Egyptian guard beating up an Israelite slave and abusing his power. Moses has an outburst of anger. There is nothing that will make us angrier than seeing someone with power and authority misuse it to hurt and unjustly abuse others. Moses exercises his power and authority at forty by beating the Egyptian guard to death. This shows us that he was out of control. Moses at forty was not the meekest man on the Earth. After this incident, Moses ran away and became an outlaw, but he could not escape God’s hand on his life. 

The Lord sent Moses to be alone. When we can’t get authority over our emotions, feelings, authority, and actions, we are often led to lonely places. But God had a plan for Moses, and Moses spent forty years with sheep. God was developing the meekness in Moses that we see forty years later. 

1. We are not born with meekness. We are not born with the ability to control ourselves. While at eighty, Moses was the meekest man on the earth, at forty, he was nowhere close. He had to work to develop meekness and self-control and allow God to work in his heart.  

Similar to Moses, David had issues that he had to workout. As a young man, David killed a lion and a bear--before there was ammunition. Then, as a young man, he stood up against a giant and defeated him with a slingshot. David was strong. 

Many years later, David’s son Absalom wants to kill David to take the throne. David was in pain and suffering, defending what God had given him. The price tag was that he had to fight his own son. The only thing more difficult than killing a lion or a giant is having the spiritual strength to deal with your own son fighting against you. When one of Saul’s descendants threw rocks at David saying that God’s grace was now on Absalom to lead, David did not respond as the rocks were thrown. 

2. Meekness is strength under control. Demonstrating spiritual strength, David refreshed himself in the Lord. Meekness is beautiful. When we control our strength in a way that helps and does not hurt, in a way that strengthens and not weakens, that adds value and does not diminish it, then we demonstrate God’s character.  

Meekness can only be downloaded by the Holy Spirit. Jesus has revealed to us in the flesh all of the glory of God. God’s meekness is a part of his glory. It is a strength that is controlled. We can’t even comprehend the strength, power, and authority God has. But, it is controlled. We are existing today because of the meekness of God. 

When people talk about us or hurt us, we will be able to overcome it with meekness, by allowing the Holy Spirit to bridle our strength. The Holy Spirit does not want to diminish our life; he wants to give us power and purpose. We are a part of the family of God, and God approaches us with meekness, inviting us to do the same. 

Reflection/Discussion Questions:

1. Would you describe yourself as meek? 

2. When in your life have you demonstrated a lack of meekness, or strength out of control? What happened? 

3. When in your life have you demonstrated meekness, or strength under control, and what did that look like? 

4. Are there areas of your life that you have not yet submitted to the Holy Spirit? How do you believe that God wants to develop more meekness in your life?