Bearing Gentleness That Glorifies God

      As Paul listed the God-glorifying fruit we must bear, he claimed we must have gentleness (NKJV) or meekness (KJV, Galatians 5:23).

      Meekness, to me, is one of the most difficult biblical concepts to define.  This is so because of our modern mindsets.  Typically, when we hear the terms “meek” or “gentle,” we think of weakness.

      Meekness is far from being weak-willed and wishy-washy.  If we are soft-spoken and gentle simply because we do not have the power to be anything else, we are not meek.

      Gentleness portrays the idea of having power, ability and courage, but using them in controlled ways to demonstrate love – even when dealing with those who have not loved us.

      Our great example of meekness is Jesus (Matthew 11:29).  Who would deny the power, ability and courage of Jesus Christ?  Yet, He is not a harsh taskmaster, bending us to His will or breaking us.  He is gentle with us.

      We can learn about meekness by noting other attitudes with which the Bible compares and contrasts it.  For instance, Titus 3:2 contrasts gentleness and meekness with violence and conflict.  We are not to be brawlers, but to be meek.

      Meekness and gentleness are consistently related to humility, kindness, patience and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12; I Timothy 6:11).  Meekness is the attitude of spirit that causes us to act in these ways.

      When we consider these comparisons, we see meekness as the mindset that is focused on helping others.  It is not focused on demonstrating self and putting self forward, but on putting others forward, helping them.

      Thus, when Galatians 6:1 exhorts us to restore one overtaken in a trespass with a spirit of gentleness, we know what Paul means.  We must not approach others about their sins to impress them with our spirituality, to put them in their place, to vent our spleen on them or to take vengeance.  We must do so out of love to help them get to heaven.

      The most challenging aspect of God-glorifying gentleness is that we must even be gentle with those who would oppose the truth of God (II Timothy 2:25).  We do not withhold these attitudes and actions from our enemies, reserving them only for those who are gentle to us first.  Rather, we are to be consistently gentle and meek with all – no matter whom they are or how they treat us.

      If we are to be Christ’s disciples, we must glorify God through gentleness.  How much gentleness will we bear this week?

Edwin L. Crozier