“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5. All who want to be saved must learn meekness, and it is not an easy lesson to learn. Moses, who was quick tempered, and in anger killed an Egyptian man who was smiting a Hebrew, could not be used by God to deliver His people from Egypt. God had to send him to school to learn humility and patience. It took 40 years to learn, while doing humble work of caring for the flock of sheep for Jethro, his father-in-law. “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)” Numbers 12:3. Now God could use him to deliver the people of Israel from Egypt.
King Nebuchadnezzar was proud. He said, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” Daniel 4:30. God decided to put him also in the school to learn meekness.
“While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured Him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation.” Daniel 4:31–34
Joseph, the son of Jacob also had to learn meekness before he was exalted to be prime minister of Egypt. He was put into slavery, and also into prison, and after he had learned meekness, he was exalted to a high position.
Yet the greatest example of true meekness we find is the Son of God. Jesus, who created the whole universe, the billions of galaxies, and each one of them with billions of stars, came to this world, and washed the dusty feet of His disciples, the work that none of His disciples were willing to do. He was also willing to take the punishment of our sins upon Himself, and sacrificed His life for it, therefore He can say “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29
“God’s providence is the school in which we are to learn the meekness and lowliness of Jesus. The Lord is ever setting before us, not the way we would choose, which seems easier and pleasanter to us, but the true aims of life. It rests with us to co-operate with the agencies which Heaven employs in the work of conforming our characters to the divine model. None can neglect or defer this work but at the most fearful peril to their souls.” –The Great Controversy, p. 623
“You will have to learn the important lesson of what it is to be a man in the sight of God. It is to be like Jesus, meek and lowly of heart, to guard the interests of others more sacredly that you would your own…. It should be carried out in your daily life and practise, showing that you have not been playing truant or a dull scholar in the school of Christ.
“Selfishness cannot exist in a heart where Christ dwells; if cherished, it will crowd out everything besides. It will lead you to follow inclination rather than duty, to make self the subject of thought, and to gratify and indulge yourself, instead of seeking to be a blessing to others. Your wants, your pleasures, will come before everything else. . . . True happiness is to be found, not in self-indulgence and self-pleasing, but in learning of Christ. . . . Those who trust to their own wisdom, and follow their own ways, go complaining at every step, because the burden which selfishness binds upon them is so heavy.” –Sons and Daughters of God, p. 82
David writes, “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach his way.” Psalm 25:9
Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” Matthew 11:11. What made him great? Was it not his meekness? He said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30. I must be less appreciated, less noticed, and put aside.
The apostle Paul learned the lesson of meekness. He said, “Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews.” Acts 20:18–19
We need to start learning meekness, because it takes time to become meek and lowly, and we do not have much time left. Many professing Christians will be lost because of self-righteousness. If Satan is not able to tempt us to break the Commandments of God, he will tempt us to become proud of our goodness, like the Pharisee who was praying in the temple. “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” Luke 18:11–12. He went home without being justified. The feeling that we are better than others is almost incurable. This self-sufficiency separates us from God.
A solemn warning is given us: “It is a dangerous age for any man who has talents which can be of value in the work of God; for Satan is constantly plying his temptations upon such a person, ever trying to fill him with pride and ambition; and when God would use him, in nine cases out of ten he becomes independent, self-sufficient, and feels capable of standing alone.” –Counsels on Health, p. 367
God cannot use self-sufficient people in His work. When we fully understand the work of Jesus, we know “for without Me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5
This will help us to learn meekness. It is a great privilege for a man to be used by God in His cause. God is calling humble workers to step into line. He is calling men and women who realize their own nothingness and helplessness. “The minister for God should in an eminent degree possess humility. Those who have the deepest experience in the things of God are the farthest removed from pride and self-exaltation. Because they have an exalted conception of the glory of God, they feel that the lowest place in His service is too honorable for them.” –Gospel Workers, p. 142
“Jesus places meekness among the first qualifications for His kingdom.” –Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 14
“The meek ‘shall inherit the earth.’ It was through the desire for self-exaltation that sin entered into the world, and our first parents lost the dominion over this fair earth, their kingdom. It is through self-abnegation that Christ redeems what was lost. And He says we are to overcome as He did. Revelation 3:21. Through humility and self-surrender we may become heirs with Him when ‘the meek shall inherit the earth.’ Psalm 37:11
“The earth promised to the meek will not be like this, darkened with the shadow of death and the curse. ‘We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.’ ‘There shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him.’ 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 22:3.” –Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 17
By looking to Jesus, and meditating on His meekness, patience, and faithfulness, we will change into the same image. May the Lord help all of us to learn in the school of Christ this important lesson of meekness. Amen.
Timo Martin