The Importance of Meekness

Written by Leon Leonard

Meekness is an important character trait that God wants to see in His people. What does it mean to be a meek person?

Gentleness is listed as a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Many Bibles show that the word can also mean meekness. Gentleness and meekness are two closely related character traits. To some people, meekness is synonymous with weakness. Some equate meekness with being tame, docile, dull and insipid. But that’s not the Bible view!

In Matthew 11:29 Jesus described Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart”—but He was anything but weak. Students of the Bible are well aware that Jesus was definitely not tame, docile, dull and insipid.

The meekness of Christ

A prime example of Christ’s gentleness is recorded in John 13:5. During the Passover, Jesus humbled Himself by washing His disciples’ feet. He even washed the feet of His betrayer, Judas Iscariot. He knew Judas’ betrayal would cause Him to suffer a humiliating, slow and painful death, but He still humbly and gently washed his feet.

How many would wash the feet of a friend, let alone an enemy? What an inspiring example of gentleness and meekness!

Moses and Jethro

Moses was considered the most humble man of his time (Numbers 12:3). The book of Exodus gives evidence as to why God called him the meekest man on earth. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, observed Moses wearing himself out trying to be a judge over both big and small matters for the people of Israel.

In Exodus 18:17 Jethro tells Moses, “The thing that you do is not good.” He then went on to recommend that Moses appoint God-fearing men to assist him in judging the people. Jethro explained that it would lift the heavy burden Moses carried of being Israel’s sole judge.

Exodus 18:24 states, “Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.”

Moses could have responded by saying: “Who do you think you are? Don’t you realize who I am? I led the people out of Egypt! I raised my arms and the Red Sea parted! God deals directly with me!”

But Moses was able to humbly listen to the advice and heed the wisdom in it. It was Moses’ gentleness and meekness that allowed God to use him as a powerful tool.

Meekness gets God’s attention

Isaiah 66:2 adds another important fact about meekness: “‘For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,’ says the LORD. ‘But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.’”

Just as we turn our heads toward a beautiful new car or an impeccably attired person, God turns His head toward a person who displays true meekness.

Here are some of the blessings God promises for people who develop the fruit of meekness: