Learning the Values of the Kingdom of God

Matthew 5:5 (ESV)

“Blessed is the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

The values of the kingdom of God are very different from the values the world holds dear. Jesus commended the meek and said that they will ultimately gain permanence & security.

Meekness is an often-misunderstood word. Meekness isn’t weakness; it’s power under control. Meekness has the power to destroy but refuses to do so. It has the power to bulldoze others to get its way, but rejects that way of life. The world doesn’t value meekness; it values pride that settles scores, seizes what it wants, and puts the desires of God & others second.

But Jesus modeled meekness as an example for us. He had the power to stop those who opposed Him, but instead endured mistreatment to fulfill His mission (Philippians 2:8). He had the power to destroy those who crucified Him, but chose to trust His Father’s plan so as to save us from our sins (1 Peter 2:23-24).

Meekness isn’t weakness; it’s power under control that seeks to please God rather than seeking its self-satisfaction. It entrusts itself to God to right wrongs rather than seeking to get even. Paradoxically, the meek are stronger than those who are often perceived as powerful.

Proverbs 16:32 (ESV) says:

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 25:28 (NLT) says:

A person without self-control is like a city with broken walls.

Anyone can get angry and forcefully assert themselves, but it takes true power to deny yourself, entrust yourself to God, and be gentle in the face of irritation.

As such, meekness is truly a quality that only God can unlock in us. Yet, it’s a virtue that’s accessible to every follower of Jesus Christ. God’s Spirit empowers us to be meek rather than arrogant & self-seeking. Meekness (often translated as gentleness) is a fruit of the Holy Spirit’s working in our lives.

So, while the world prioritizes power that exalts itself, and while it values punishing those who cross us, it’s the meek who will inherit the earth in eternity. Like all the other fruit of the Spirit, the closer we walk with God, the more we’ll experience God’s power to be meek.

Set your mind on God’s word and obey as you have the opportunity—and you’ll experience the power & fruit of the Holy Spirit, including the ability to be meek.