Restoring the Virtue of Meekness

The shift in American culture from character to image has turned vanity and pride into virtues. The strong, the beautiful, the powerful, the intelligent, and the privileged take every opportunity to put themselves forward.

Probably the least admired character quality in America is meekness. And yet the greatest Person who ever lived was a meek and humble man—“learn from Me, for I am gentle [meek] and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Those who follow Him will also demonstrate meekness, or gentleness as fruit of a Spirit-filled life (Galatians 5:22).

Meekness is not weakness; it is power under control. As the writer of Proverbs says, “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32). In contrast, the individual who is not gentle is likened to “a city broken into and left without walls” (Proverbs 25:28). Gentleness always uses its resources appropriately, unlike the out-of-control emotions that so often are destructive and have no place in your life as a believer.

And don’t equate gentleness with cowardice, lack of conviction, or mere human niceness. It’s a virtue that draws courage, strength, conviction, and a good disposition from God, not from self-centered human resources.

Gentleness characterizes our Lord Jesus Christ. He always defended God’s glory and ultimately gave Himself in sacrifice for others (see 1 Peter 2:21-24). Jesus didn’t lash back when criticized, slandered, or treated unjustly, but He did respond fittingly and firmly when God’s honor was profaned or His truth was perverted or neglected.

When His time of suffering came, however, Jesus submitted to the will of His Father and endured the abuse and murderous intentions of the hypocritical leaders. He demonstrated meekness to the very end. “When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23).

For some, meekness leads to suffering. “For Your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered” (Romans 8:36). But there is triumph for the meek, even in suffering—“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

Meekness is a path worth following. Jesus promised, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).

—Adapted from The Quest for Character, by John MacArthur. © Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.