Jesus said: " Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).The blessedness envisaged here is equal to the perfect happiness we seek in life. However, many are puzzled by this promise as they do not correctly understand what is meant by meekness and the meaning of inheriting the earth. Many tend to think that a meek person should only whimper and blubber like little lambs
faced with cruelty and injustice. The Bible, however, understands it differently as power under God exercised with self-control.. In the Old Testament, Moses is described as the meekest man on earth (Numbers, 12:3). The vigorous action of Jesus in cleansing the Jerusalem Temple of the corrupt practices of religion (Mark, 11: 15-17) was not in conflict with his own description of himself as meek and lowly in heart ( Matthew, 11: 28-29). Both Moses and Jesus were able to exercise power under God with self-control and so were meek and humble. What is more, his invitation was to those who labor under heavy loads to learn from him. His promise was rest for their souls! When the body is under strain, Jesus wants us to strengthen it by means of the power of our soul that remains ignored for so long. Although every power that moves and activates our body comes from our soul, we tend to ignore it cutting off thereby the source of relief to and rejuvenation of our body.
How does power under control ( meekness) operate in our actual situations of life? It implies two things: (a) We should not be busy bragging about our talents and achievements and yet without denying them should use our sober judgement (Romans, 12:3). We can be modest without denying our strengths and abilities as well as limitations. When Jesus was asked whether he was the Messiah, he pointed to his miracles without any false modesty, inflated self-image or inferiority complex. (b) The second aspect of meekness consists in our decision not to defend ourselves against false accusations. It is not that we are incapable of defending ourselves and yet we decide to sacrifice that power of self-defense that could even devastate the accuser, had we used it, for the sake of leaving our power under God's control. The exception to this rule is when we don't want to let down the people who depend on us on account of our integrity. At the same time, we shall keep in mind Psalm 37: 1-11 that says:"Do not fret because of the wicked... the meek shall inherit the land".
When we look at the world of everyday living at home, workplace, society etc., reality bites and we remain perplexed. The arrogant and the self-seeking seem to win in every sphere leaving by the wayside those who refuse to join the rat-race! It is a forgotten truth that even after winning the race, they remain rats!! Here is the difference between the real joy, peace and happiness enjoyed by the meek and the others who seemingly have achieved their goal. The Universe comes to the aid of those who are pushed aside by the selfish and the vainglorious. This, again, does not mean that we should sit quietly without putting any effort to carry out our responsibilities conscientiously. Those who are hungry for power are often lonely people. Even when they think that they possess the world, in actual fact they are possessed by the world and are enslaved by it. The world does not leave its subjects in peace and security even when they have amassed wealth for many generations to come. On the contrary, the meek and the humble are never possessed by the world even when they have possessions in the world.
How does the meek inherit the earth? God's power and control in the kingdom of heaven is gradually transforming the earth into a new earth (Revelation, 21:1).It will be a part of new heaven of which the meek will share abundantly already here on earth before they die. This newness is carried forward in the new life after death where our contribution through meekness and humility is multiplied and returned to us. Jesus promised a hundred fold of everything in this very life of anything sacrificed for his sake besides inheriting eternal life (Mark, 10: 28-31). Our inheriting the earth will be fulfilled in the new heaven and the new earth as our contribution now here on earth is transformed and carried forward in the new life. It does not mean that we should be deprived of the material goods that enhance our life here on earth at present. We may enjoy them under the control of God's power who is intent on building up the kingdom of heaven on earth. The arrogant and the self-seeking are strangers to this new order of things as they refuse to use power and wealth for the benefit of others and are blinded by illusions. They cannot even imagine what God has prepared for those who love Him. The meek have love, joy and peace in them, which are but a foretaste of heaven itself.
faced with cruelty and injustice. The Bible, however, understands it differently as power under God exercised with self-control.. In the Old Testament, Moses is described as the meekest man on earth (Numbers, 12:3). The vigorous action of Jesus in cleansing the Jerusalem Temple of the corrupt practices of religion (Mark, 11: 15-17) was not in conflict with his own description of himself as meek and lowly in heart ( Matthew, 11: 28-29). Both Moses and Jesus were able to exercise power under God with self-control and so were meek and humble. What is more, his invitation was to those who labor under heavy loads to learn from him. His promise was rest for their souls! When the body is under strain, Jesus wants us to strengthen it by means of the power of our soul that remains ignored for so long. Although every power that moves and activates our body comes from our soul, we tend to ignore it cutting off thereby the source of relief to and rejuvenation of our body.
How does power under control ( meekness) operate in our actual situations of life? It implies two things: (a) We should not be busy bragging about our talents and achievements and yet without denying them should use our sober judgement (Romans, 12:3). We can be modest without denying our strengths and abilities as well as limitations. When Jesus was asked whether he was the Messiah, he pointed to his miracles without any false modesty, inflated self-image or inferiority complex. (b) The second aspect of meekness consists in our decision not to defend ourselves against false accusations. It is not that we are incapable of defending ourselves and yet we decide to sacrifice that power of self-defense that could even devastate the accuser, had we used it, for the sake of leaving our power under God's control. The exception to this rule is when we don't want to let down the people who depend on us on account of our integrity. At the same time, we shall keep in mind Psalm 37: 1-11 that says:"Do not fret because of the wicked... the meek shall inherit the land".
When we look at the world of everyday living at home, workplace, society etc., reality bites and we remain perplexed. The arrogant and the self-seeking seem to win in every sphere leaving by the wayside those who refuse to join the rat-race! It is a forgotten truth that even after winning the race, they remain rats!! Here is the difference between the real joy, peace and happiness enjoyed by the meek and the others who seemingly have achieved their goal. The Universe comes to the aid of those who are pushed aside by the selfish and the vainglorious. This, again, does not mean that we should sit quietly without putting any effort to carry out our responsibilities conscientiously. Those who are hungry for power are often lonely people. Even when they think that they possess the world, in actual fact they are possessed by the world and are enslaved by it. The world does not leave its subjects in peace and security even when they have amassed wealth for many generations to come. On the contrary, the meek and the humble are never possessed by the world even when they have possessions in the world.
How does the meek inherit the earth? God's power and control in the kingdom of heaven is gradually transforming the earth into a new earth (Revelation, 21:1).It will be a part of new heaven of which the meek will share abundantly already here on earth before they die. This newness is carried forward in the new life after death where our contribution through meekness and humility is multiplied and returned to us. Jesus promised a hundred fold of everything in this very life of anything sacrificed for his sake besides inheriting eternal life (Mark, 10: 28-31). Our inheriting the earth will be fulfilled in the new heaven and the new earth as our contribution now here on earth is transformed and carried forward in the new life. It does not mean that we should be deprived of the material goods that enhance our life here on earth at present. We may enjoy them under the control of God's power who is intent on building up the kingdom of heaven on earth. The arrogant and the self-seeking are strangers to this new order of things as they refuse to use power and wealth for the benefit of others and are blinded by illusions. They cannot even imagine what God has prepared for those who love Him. The meek have love, joy and peace in them, which are but a foretaste of heaven itself.
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