Mar 18 2008
Meekness
Preaching through the beatitudes has been good for me personally. I have found the teachings of Jesus to once again be refreshing to my soul. Last week as I prepared for Sunday messages on, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” I found that all great examples of leadership in the bible had a genuine and abundant meekness. Barclay says meekness is, “Always being angry at the right time and never being angry at the wrong time.” I think this is a very good definition.
Moses, was said to have been the meekest man that ever walked the earth.(Num 12:3) Moses, would not defend himself from accusations and anarchy but would walk up to an Egyptian King and command him to free his slaves.
In the Psalms we find David always running to his tower of refuge for protection against his enemies. He continually asked for God to deliver him. Yet, there were times when he took up the sword and led men into battle.
Jesus was the same. Pharisees called him a madman, a devil, and a liar but you never see Him getting out of control and defending himself. However, when the Glory of His Fathers name was on the line he turned over tables in the temple and made a whip and drove them away. Again, “Always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time”, that’s true meekness.
I think that meekness is essential to any true leader. Often it is equated with weakness or cowardice, but meekness is not weakness. A true and good leader knows that there are proper times for anger and offense. If we look at the scriptures those time are generally in 1 of 3 categories:
1. The protection of doctrinal truth
2. The demeaning of the Glory or Name of God
3. When others are being slandered or mistreated and it is undeserving.
A good leader can discern those times and be in control of his actions, even actions of anger or wrath. God has given us the ability to be angry for good; the upholding of his name and truth as well as the protection of others.
Jesus said, “Happy is the man who knows when to be angry and when to just take it.” What a much better and happier life we could live if we only could learn to be more meek. What much better church we could be if everyone, especially our leaders would pray to become more meek.
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