Meek, Not Weak

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
Matthew 5:5 (NIV)

I was reminded earlier this week that one of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control. Having the discipline to keep yourself in check; keeping your feelings on track. Part of that is learning how to be meek.

The trouble is, so many people now misunderstand that term. Sure, we know from popular culture that Superman's alter ego Clark Kent was 'meek and mild-mannered'. And we know from an old children's song that Jesus was 'meek and mild'... In fact, long-term readers of this blog will realise that I touched on this before; see here.That's when I talked about my passionate, 'positively assertive' self that I frequently have to keep in check...

The whole problem with meekness stems from a simple confusion - we often confuse 'meek' with 'weak'. That's because nobody wants to be seen to be weak...

As I was chewing this over, I received an email this week from Rick Warren which listed the many benefits of Christian meekness:

• The meek will be satisfied (Psalm 22:26)
• God will guide them (Psalm 25:9)
• They will become wise (Proverbs 11:2)
• They will be filled with fresh joy (Isaiah 29:19)

In fact, the Greek word used for meekness is πραΰς, which literally means "God's strength under God's control." It's not weak - not weak at all. In fact, Rick described it like a wild stallion that has now been tamed. All that strength that was there beforehand is still there, but it's now under control.

Awesome, isn't it? And I'm told this is a key way to relieve stress and eliminate worry in your life.

God's absolute power - under His perfect control...

Wow.

Problems and Opportunities

It was a particularly wet and miserable morning - and I couldn't just turn over and go back to sleep. I had to get up to go to work. I hadn't slept well the night before - too many things on my mind - and I was in pain with an annoying ailment so as a result I was feeling particularly low. There seemed to be nothing but an endless string of problems ahead of me...

In fact, I started seeing these problems in a tangible way - if you excuse the literary reference, it was just like the heads of the Hydra - cut off one, and two more would take its place.

Inspired by the way my mind was working this out, I sought suitable inspiration to combat this online - as I sat on the train to work I googled a quotation or two. And then I read this:

"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognised a problem and turned it into an opportunity."
(Joseph Sugarman)

You know, I find it hard sometimes to see the opportunity behind the problem. Sometimes I can't seem to see the wood for the trees! However, I've been trying hard this week to actively spot the opportunity in each problem I encounter.

"Tho’ we are weak, His grace is everything we need;
We’re made of clay but this treasure is within.
He turns our weaknesses into His opportunities,
So that the glory goes to Him….."
(lyrics from 'Rejoice, Rejoice' by Graham Kendrick)

Your Move

Have you ever had a particularly weak moment in your life? I've had a few. You know, the sort of day when I just wanted to crawl back into bed. Times when I just wanted to yell in frustration or cry my eyes out (but of course I couldn't, 'cause I'm a fella and that's not the way us fellas are supposed to behave).

Have you been there? Are you at that place right now? Well, here's some news for you.

At Your Weakest Point, God Is At His Strongest.

What that means in a practical sense is that God won't get in your way as long as you think you have the answer. He'll let you carry on.

However, when you finally admit to yourself that you haven't a clue, that you are totally lost, out of options.... and you surrender your life to the Almighty, then and only then, will God will do His stuff.

There's nothing too hard for God to handle.

But it's your move. You need to take that first step...

Your move.

Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV)
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This extract from Paul's letter to the believers in Corinth, talking about his 'thorn in my flesh' speaks volumes to me today, as I write this I'm feeling quite weak and lousy. I think I might have one of the bugs that have been buzzing around. Now, I'm not comparing in any way Paul's thorn to my minor bug, however I hate being prevented to do what I want to do by ill-health. Why does it have to happen to me when I get a week off?

God is good. And uses all opportunities to teach us...