Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
(James 3:13-18) ESV
We’ve been thinking about being meek. Probably because we don’t think that we are very meek. Meek isn’t a bad thing. Definitions of meek seem to miss the point.
Meek is enduring injury with patience and without resentment; deficient in spirit and courage: submissive; not violent or strong: moderate.
– Meek, definition (Merriam-Webster)
Meek is quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive.
– Meek, definition (Google)
In our passage today the Bible is telling those of us who are endued with wisdom to demonstrate it with meekness. When the Bible tells us to do something, it’s normally because we’ve not been dong it. We’re being admonished, corrected, or chastised.
Clearly James is telling people, who are not normally meek, to be intentionally meek. It’s not, therefore, a sign of weakness. It’s actually a sign of strength. In this context meekness is the hallmark of one who has overcome the normal urges to dominate with the power of their intellect. They have learned to dial it back and restrain themselves.
If we have the power to destroy any opponent and humiliate them but we choose not to, that’s being meek.
January 7th – Sophia Proton
We’ve made a direct connection between the Holy Trinity and particle physics.
Matty (Headwind) 