Sermon Central
-
To Be Meek Series
Contributed by Richard White on Sep 25, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: Not weak, not a doormat, but those who put others first.
To Be Meek!
You ever met someone who is just that type of person who gets along with everyone. The type who you say, “if you can’t get along with him/her you can’t get along with anyone.” In my life I have met several like that matter of fact I married one. Another like that is my Dad; he is calm no matter what the situation. One day back in July of 1976 my wife was about to give birth to our first son; I was on my way back to the ship when this happened. While everyone was panicking he calmly called the doctor, made arrangements for the hospital and such. This is the idea behind meekness. Dr. Lloyd Jones defines meekness as; essentially a true view of oneself, expressing itself in attitude and conduct with respect to other . . .one who is truly meek is amazed that God and man think of him as well as they do.” Meekness is humble, considerate, courteous, exercising self-control. Yet worldly thinking looks at such a person as a doormat. Moses was a meek man. (Numbers 12:3) (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
So what exactly is this meekness, it is gentleness, a gentle spirited person. It is not a “doormat” type person, instead it is taking on an others first attitude. It is actually a form of Darwinism “Only the Strong survive” not in the worldly sense, but the strong in Christ.
Jesus was the example of meekness (Phil 2:5-11) PHP 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
We always get this attitude that if we were meek, gentle, having a others first attitude, someone is going to take advantage of us. SO WHAT? Who is that sin on?
Meekness is having the attitude of Christ. Others first, remember the needs of the many outweigh the needs of few or the one.
The Meek have:
1. Confidence in Christ He will make it right
2. They have a form of Godliness to the point that they are obedient
a. Gal 5:22-23
b. Col 3:12
c. Prov 15:1, 4
d. Are we a thermostat or a thermometer?
3. It is a mark of a disciple of Jesus.
JFK said in his inaugural address: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” In these terms, ask not what others can do for you, but what can you do for others.
When I think of Meek and serving others I think of Pat Tillman, football player, having a multi-million dollar contract set aside so he can go and serve in the Armed forces. His country needed him more than he needed football. I think of my son Matt, who at age 10 at a PK conference in TN, gave all the money he had for the family of James Byrd.
Matt 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
The meek get it all: (story of Wealthy Man and Son)
Do you want it all? Get Jesus, adopt his attitude and we will get it all!
