There is an old joke/story about a guy abandoned at sea after a shipwreck of some sort. He's floating around in a life boat all alone, no food, water, or provisions. One day, he looks off in the distance and sees the outline of an island. He begins feverishly paddling toward it, desperate for survival. As his small boat begins to bounce up and down with the waves, he begins to pray to God.
"Dear God, please let me make it to that island and I will turn away from wine, women, and cussing and be a beacon for your kingdom."
The boat continues toward the island, the man paddling away. The island is getting larger and rising higher in the sky."
"Dear God, please help me make it to that island and I will turn away from wine and women."
The boat continues to inch closer to the island. The trees and waterfalls come into view.
"Dear God, please just a little bit more."
The boat slides up on a sand bar. The man hops from the boat and splashes his way toward the beach. He gets several feet away from the water and collapses to his knees in the sand, looks up to the sky and shouts."
"I did it! I made it. I'm saved."
You and I are not so unlike the man in the story. There are numerous times in our lives, not just times of despair or struggle, but also success and accomplishment when we think we actually did something on our own. It is an odd conundrum. We know God is control of all things. The creator of all things. Yet, we still forget that and take credit all on our own for our accomplishments.
This weeks verse is Matthew 5:5.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Let's start with that word, "meek". First, that word in today's usage gives off an instant connotation (note I did not say 'definition') of weakness, timidity, or shyness.
The first century Greek word used in this verse, praus, is defined as
- mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit,
It is used just four times in the New Testament, this verse, Mt 11:29, Mt 21:5, and 1 Pe 3:4. In each of those verses and along with today's modern definitions it means gentle and/or humble. Humility and gentleness of spirit was what Jesus was saying. Specifically, humility.
Last week I stated I felt the biggest sin was "lack of love." I firmly believe that Pride is what causes that. Pride focuses on oneself and not others. If you look at these two definitions, you'll see that they are basically opposites of each other. It was Pride that caused Satan to fall. It was Pride that caused the original sin. While lack of love is the worst sin, pride could very well be the root of that lack of love.
Humility: a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.
Pride: feeling of deep pleasure derived from one's own accomplishments, qualities, or possessions.
So why would this be a behavior that Jesus indicates is necessary for us to Love like Him.
First, let's go back to Mt 22:37 - (after Loving God), love your neighbor as yourself. The humble will not put themselves above others. The humble will not feel as though they have done things or accomplished things that are better or more important than others. (remember the repeated cycle of Love. Love God, love others, yourself comes last)
Jesus was the greatest example of this. Not only did he wash the feet of his disciples, serve the people by ministering or healing, but he gave the ultimate sacrifice of his life for others. He was God! He allowed himself to be captured, tortured and crucified for us. For you. For all those people we "don't like" or feel we're "better than". He died for them equally as He died for you.
Those feelings of superiority keep you from loving like you should. I can hear you saying... "I don't think I'm superior or better than others." And I agree that you (and me) don't mean to do it. But have you ever said any of these things?
- I worked hard to earn my ______ (boat, house, car - you fill in the blank)
- I earned that ______ (degree, promotion, good grade, etc.)
- It is my skills that allow me to _______ (play a sport, fix something, learn something, etc.)
And don't get me wrong, you did work hard, you did earn it, you are good at what you do. My point is this. When we forget that we were only able to work hard, earn something, or are good at something because God has so deemed it and
only because he has so deemed it, then we fall victim to the trap of not being humble or putting to much stock in our own power.
And even that little sliver of pride can harm how we love.
You only have control over your choices - left or right, this or that, love or not love. Look back over the course of your lifetime and the choices that put you where you are now? Remember the guy in the row boat struggling to get to shore? Just one wave - one wave from the holy hand of God could have sent that boat further out to sea or toppled it over. Think of all the things you've accomplished? Just one "wave" from God could have completely changed the course of your life.
I'm as guilty as they come. For crying out loud, I'm from Texas. Everything is bigger and better in Texas. Texas football is the best. Texas is the best state. TexMex food, BBQ, chili - its all better in Texas! But I ask myself, what did I do to make me a Texan? Nothing. Have you ever seen the bumper sticker, "American by birth, Texan by the grace of God"? That sticker is more true than you think. You did absolutely nothing to be American or Texan. God deemed where you were born - you had no say in the matter.
Next I want to talk about the definition of success. There are many definitions and each of us may have a slightly different one, but let's focus on some generalized version right here in the good ole' U.S. of A.
- Good job
- College degree
- Making good money
- Being the 'boss'
- Nice house/car/etc.
When we define success, it usually includes things like above - accomplishments or possessions. And these are earthly things. In this verse, Jesus is asking us to not make these things the definition of success. That what we accumulate her on earth, the power we obtain, the prestige, the accomplishments - they are not the goal. It doesn't matter what we "get" while we are on earth. If we are not humble, we will not be "given" (inherit) the earth in the afterlife.
When you look at these things and attach them to success, you are putting yourself above God in the accomplishment of those things. "I did it." That puts you first and God somewhere down the line. And if you are going to put yourself ahead of God, how much easier is it to put others also below you?
Granted, I am not saying you intentionally do that. What I'm saying is to love like Jesus, you have to intentionally NOT do that.
Let's look at the reward of the meek; 'inherit the earth'.
Inherit: klēronomeō: to be an heir - to receive the portion assigned to one, receive an allotted portion, receive as one's own or as a possession.
This word is just as you'd expect. To inherit is to have something passed down to you. Side note here - have you ever noticed that in America we sometimes say about some millionaire who inherited their fortune, "they didn't earn it, it is daddy's money" or something like that. We put a lot of stock in someone's ability to 'succeed' on their own...
The next word to look at is "earth".
Earth: gē: the ground, the earth as a standing place (different than “the world” - kosmos used in John 3:16 which means the world and everything - including people)
If you look at the things we define as success - earthly possessions or accomplishments - Jesus says that if we are meek/humble, we'll inherit the earth from the Father. That is a good thing. Again, what you accomplish here is just a fleeting moment compared to eternity. When you look at a scale of eternity, would you rather have pride in your things now, or inherit the earth forever?
So how do you love like Jesus? With a humility that puts you lower than others. With a humility that recognizes that God allows you to be or have whatever it is you are or have. That without Him, you can have or do nothing. And he commands you to love like that. If you want to Love like Jesus, then consider this verse - spoken by Jesus, God in the flesh.
John 5:19-20
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed."
Even Jesus admitted He could only do as the Father commanded or allowed. How many times did Jesus also say to the Father, "your will be done." ?
In order to love others as Jesus did, you have to humble yourself. Put God first, then others, and lastly, yourself at the very bottom. You must realize that you only accomplish what is the will of the Father.
In God's eyes we all (every single human on the planet - good, bad or indifferent) are equal. To love like Jesus is to remember that and humble ourselves to our 'neighbors'.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Love,
Rob
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