GENTLENESS/MEEKNESS – Gentleness and meekness is not a weakness.
Meekness is the ability to esteem others better than ourselves. Meekness or its common perception may seem too much like weakness, wimpiness, or timidity. – Yet Meekness is having a tolerant, yielding spirit, or having the right of way but not insisting on it. We only need to look at Jesus to correct our thinking - Even though Jesus spoke with authority, the Gospels show His manner to be peaceable and yielding in most situations.

Meekly yielding for the ultimate good does not mean weakness, but instead strength, and wisdom.

Humility before Honor - Some individuals have an arrogant approach "We know and we know that we know." In certain restricted contexts, this stance may prove appropriate and to seek honor for ourselves or to feel worthy of honor is a dead end, and it will taint how we communicate to others. We will naturally look down on them, disrespect them, overlook them, and criticize them. If we have experienced dishonor, perhaps we need to look closely to see where we have dishonored others. - As a general approach to people, as we need to be more humble and our approach needs to be more of a servant and or shepherd like, towards those that we deal with everyday, it satisfies the soul to be in Godly control which is taking the peaceful approach in all situations.

We see and experience this all the time "small pot soon hot." - That the one with the least reservoir of experience will appear as the most cocky and unyielding “Usually a young person”, while the one with a vast reservoir of experience—who has concluded that there are even vaster funds of knowledge yet to be learned will appear as the more provisional and tolerant. - In the beginning stages of learning, knowledge has the tendency to "puff up" but as one continues to grow in it, a quality of meekness replaces intolerant rigidity.

Acquiring knowledge changes a person's approach and outlook. As one begins to learn, knowledge has the tendency to puff up, but as one steadily grows in knowledge, humility returns as one comes to the stark realization about how little he really knows. - "An old Yiddish proverb reads" As long as you understand your foolishness, you are smart."

Will you pray for them or pray with them, will you teach someone or help him learn – A student will appreciate meekness in a teacher, people do not naturally like to be "taught" or "sold on" anything. Through a meek spirit, a teacher can inspire and facilitate the human natural desire to learn by engaging the student's internal motivation.

Meekness is a byproduct of Trials - Meekness seems to come about as the result of intense trials and tests. Moses, trained in the arts and sciences of Egypt, did not attain his meek disposition until he spent forty years tending sheep with the Midianites. From this experience, besides his other humbling trials, he learned to "lead" rather than "drive." - Meekness in a shepherd and meekness in a teacher is just as needful as in the flock or in students. The servant-leader Moses learned meekness and obedience from what he suffered just as Jesus Christ learned obedience through what he suffered so that he could empathize with his brethren Hebrews 5:8-9 - This humiliating experience served a significant purpose: - That he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:17-18 - The meekness that accrues from trials and life experiences equips people with the sympathy, compassion and sensitivity to help others enduring similar difficulties in life, especially to those in the house of God.

The apostle Paul in his instructions to Timothy advocates a respectful meek approach, to members of his congregation: "Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, the younger as sisters, with all purity" I Timothy 5:1-2 - Paul tries to instill a balance in Timothy, pulling him away from the equally disgusting extremes of timidity and harshness, and pointing him toward the servant- or shepherd-style leadership advocated by Christ.

The virtue of Meekness is an “Internal Attitude” a condition of the heart and of the mind, whereas gentleness which is (mildness combined with tenderness) refers to our actions which is an “External behavior” and the meekness of Jesus manifested the spiritual fruit of power. It is enduring injury with patience and without resentment. That is real self control. – And whoever has the control has the real power.

What are the elect of God to seek, pursue and put on? – “Meekness” this is rooted in God, and therefore we must pursue it. Because it is a quality of God's character, we must exert effort to make it part of our character.

What is God's reaction to the meek? - The truly righteous are meek and receptive to the Word of God. God says that He will guide the patience of those who have been wronged and He will decide fairly for them.

How important is producing the fruit of meekness? - The Holy Spirit enables us to produce meekness, a necessary attitude for understanding God's Word. An added benefit to the meek is that God promises them the enjoyment of peace. A meek and quiet spirit is so very precious to God that he calls it an imperishable ornament, and He rewards the meek with inheritance of the earth.

How did Jesus Christ set us an example of meekness? - Jesus shows us that meekness is not a mere contemplative virtue; it is maintaining peace and patience in the midst of pelting provocations. In                      II Corinthians Paul realizes that the meek and gentle approach can easily appear as weakness to those unfamiliar with Jesus' example, so he calls it "the meekness . . . of Christ." True meekness is always measured by Christ's meekness. His humility, patience and total submission of His own will to the will of the Father exemplifies meekness.

How does good conduct relate to meekness? - Good conduct is not meekness, but we should show the attitude of meekness in good conduct, that is, in righteousness. Works done in righteousness are done with an attitude of meekness. Synonyms for meek are "gentle," "humble," "poor" and "lowly."

To whom should we show meekness? - We should have a meek attitude to all others regardless of our relationship with them. Even when someone is antagonistic, meek correction and teaching will assist God in leading them to repentance. Meekness is the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest. It is evenness of mind—neither elated nor cast down—because a truly meek person is not occupied with self at all.

The focus of true meekness is not in our outward behavior only, or in our relationships to other human beings. Neither is the focus on our natural disposition. Rather, it is an inwardly developed tender-heartedness, and the performing of it is first and chiefly toward God. It is the attitude in which we accept God's will toward us as good, and thus without disputing or resisting. Since true meekness is before God, we realize He permits and uses insults and injuries that the world or others may inflict for our chastening, our purification, our growth, our character adjustment and fine tuning that we may be more Christ like and be used for his kingdom work.

Download bible study