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The Meek, the Lowly and the Wise By Lorelei Nettles There are many kinds of people in the world, and only a few are selected to be among God's chosen. What characteristics may show us who they are?
hen you read about God's people in the Bible, you get a sense for who they are and where they came from. What about God's people today? Do they stand out from the world, and how might we recognize them? The following three qualities are identifying characteristics of those whom God has chosen and converted. The meek
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines meek as 1: enduring injury with patience and without resentment, 2: deficient in spirit and courage and 3: not violent or strong. Being meek is having humility and being of a gentle spirit, having a quiet and gentle approach. The Greek word for gentleness is epieikes; it is sometimes translated graciousness, courtesy or moderation.
We, too, should be striving to be meek. It does not come easily. We are constantly under stresses in this world. Technology, while making life seem easier, has also led us away from being as social as we once were. We are continually facing one deadline or another, which leads to impatience, and our lack of socializing can cause us to resent others for the smallest of infractions. We feel injured by the injustices of the world and often find it difficult to forgive. We have become too busy to do Bible study and pray as often as we should. But it is part of what we should be working on as Christians. The lowly Psalm 138:6 says, "Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar." And in Acts 10:34-35, "Then Peter opened his mouth and said, 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.'" The lowly would be humble; the meek have humility. One goes with the other. The lowly and meek do not look to be first; they do not try to prove that they are special among men. Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
God's people are not usually chosen from the rich, the mighty or the important. Having such things or being such a person often causes one to push out humility and change one's heart. God says He is no respecter of persons, and often with riches and power comes ego. My mother always told me that ego meant "Edging God Out," and I have come to believe it over the years. Even those with whom we attend church every week can fall into the pitfalls of ego. Have you ever wondered why someone suddenly leaves the church and never returns? Often it is because they became too self-absorbed in one way or another. They may have held higher positions in the church, worked on special projects or just had their own ideas of what should and shouldn't be happening or said in church. Somewhere along the line, something changed for them and they took offense. They may have been reassigned in their duties, told their ideas were not acceptable, or the project they were working on may have ended. They no longer felt useful.
Interestingly, when talking to God's people, you often find they come from backgrounds that may not be very pretty at all. They may have come from very poor circumstances. They may even have been in jail. When we read about Paul, we learn that he was an accuser of the Christians and caused the harm of many. He was not interested in being one of them and yet there he was. God opened his mind, and he was never the same again. He did not come from righteous beginnings and neither do most of God's people. The wise Beginning in Exodus, we are told of God giving the spirit of wisdom: wisdom of heart, God's wisdom, wisdom and understanding. In 1 Kings 4:29, we read: "And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore." In verse 31 we read that he was wiser than all men. Wisdom does not mean that God's people are smarter than anyone else. Wisdom is knowing how and when to do the right thing. Wisdom is defined (again by Merriam-Webster's) as the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships and a wise attitude, belief or course of action.
Not every person might seem to be a potential source of wisdom, but there is wisdom to be found even in the lives of those who may not live properly. Sometimes just seeing someone else's life can give us wisdom. What God wants is for us to seek out His wisdom that He has laid out for us throughout Scripture. May God continue to transform us, so that being meek, lowly and wise will be three qualities of godly character we possess. For more interesting reading on God's Church and His people, request the booklet . Copyright 2009 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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Origin of article "The Meek, the Lowly and the Wise"
Keywords: God's people meekness lowly pride proud
Humility: