One of the most misunderstood Beatitudes of Jesus may be one of the most important for you to master in 2010: "Happy are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). Let's be honest. It sounds ludicrous. You'd think to inherit the earth you'd have to climb over everyone else first. But we've lost the true meaning of meekness.
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Meek doesn't mean weak. Jesus and Moses were described as meek, and they certainly were anything but weak. Meekness really means strength under control. The Greek word referred to a wild horse tamed or medicine that could tame a fever.
Strength under control is an important characteristic of any Christian leader. A leader who can't control his or her strength can't lead others to do likewise.
Here are five ways to keep your strength under control in 2010.
1. When someone serves you, be understanding not demanding.
Philippians 2:4-5 (GNB) says, "Don't just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others too, and in what they are doing. Your attitude should be the same as Jesus Christ's."
We're interacting with people who serve us all the time. Waitresses, secretaries, clerks, bank tellers, and fast-food servers, for example. One of the best marks of a Christian leader is that he treats those people with dignity and respect. Are you understanding or demanding? Do you demand to see the manager every time your order is wrong? Or do you respond with grace?
Good leaders aren't measured by how others serve them, but by how they serve others. It's easy to respond to those who serve you with demands and a critical spirit. We're called to do the opposite. Forgiveness should be quick. Respect should be the rule.
2. When somebody disappoints you, be gentle and not judgmental.
Paul tells us in Romans 14:1 (GNB), "Welcome those who are weak in faith, but do not argue with them about their personal opinions." Happiness comes when you can accept people as they are. They shouldn't have to reach a certain standard to be loved.
Pastor, how do you react when someone messes up in life? Are you the first to level judgment and criticism? Here's the sad part. Many of us are secretly happy when others blow it because it makes us look like the super spiritual giant. But meekness means you are gentle and not judgmental when people disappoint you.
What angered Jesus more than anything else were self-righteous religious people who were always judging others.
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