Meekness vs Responsibility
Sermon – Blessed Are the Meek (sermon manuscript)
This past weekend I preached a message, “Blessed Are the Meek.” You can listen to it here or download it on iTunes under “New Philadelphia Church.” The message covers a number of things, but one that I wanted to highlight in this blog is the contrast between meekness (patience under suffering, restraining one’s own power so as to allow for others) and between witchcraft (illegitimate authority, often in the form of manipulation/negotiation, domination, and intimidation to get one’s way). Matthew 5:5 reads, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” And yet in our world today most people seek to inherit the earth by their own means. Tyrants use force. Swindlers use manipulation. Dictators use intimidation and fear. Many such people seem to get ahead in the world’s sight, but we are warned in Psalm 37 that their worldly/evil methods are creating worldly kingdoms that will not last. But for those who wait on the Lord and trust in Him, they will make impacts for eternity. Meekness is letting God work for you when the world around you is using worldly methods to move forward (I covered this well in sharing about the life of Jacob in the sermon).
A friend asked, “Where do you draw the line in being meek, not striving, still, patient, on our Lord and taking some action or responsibility? Especially when it concerns plans for future?” Meekness isn’t meant to make us immobile/irresponsible. We just won’t fight/strive on our own. We are still called to pray and seek guidance and make decisions. If our heart is right, then even in the decisions when we aren’t hearing God’s voice that clearly we can still trust that God will take care of us whichever path we end up choosing. We just can’t be trying to advance our own kingdom in our decisions. If our hearts are pure, then why wouldn’t God want to bless us? And if we aren’t sure but really desire clarity or confirmation, often God will give us people in our lives that can help speak into us, such as a pastor or spiritual leader (whose heart should also be pure). For those really big decisions, meekness can encourage us to keep petitioning the Lord for clarity and not just take matters into our own hands.
Last, although meekness is trusting in God through all things, we should never feel indifferent knowing that God has things worked out for us. This is a Christian walk, not a Christian stand. If I stopped doing the orphanage ministry here in Seoul right now and also completely stopped praying for NK because I’m already confident God will open the nation for me and give me orphanages there, then I would be a fool. The greatest part of my life is walking with God and getting to know His heart. Praying and serving and obeying all enable me to know His heart more. If you take away the joy of my relationship with Him then I’m just a servant going through the motions, living for a heaven I don’t really want (since heaven is being with God). I believe whenever we feel “blah,” that is a call for us to go deeper into His heart. His heart is a consuming fire that never goes out.
Deuteronomy 11:22-24 – For if you will be careful to do all this commandment that I command you to do, loving the Lord your God, walking in all his ways, and holding fast to him, then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours…
