A BROKEN HORSE

"Blessed are the humble (meek), for they will inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5 (CSB)

To be well off, rich, better than others are those who are meek.

So, what do we mean by meek?

When’s the last time you heard someone say, “If you really want to succeed in life, try being meek?” Or, “If you want to rise to the top and get somewhere in life, display a lot of meekness along the way?”

Meekness is not a characteristic that we really desire. The world’s philosophy of success tells us that we need to:

·      Be Assertive / Aggressive;

·      To go for the throat / Do whatever is necessary; and to

·      Use your power to get what you deserve.

We tend to think of being “Meek” as being Wimpy, Weak, Sickly and Cowardly.

Have you ever heard of the "Dependent Order of Really Meek and Timid Souls"?  When you make an acrostic of the first letters of its name, you have the word "Doormats." The Doormats have an official insignia—a yellow caution light. Their official motto is: "The meek shall inherit the earth, if that’s OK with everybody!" Upton Diskson founded the society after he wrote a pamphlet called “Cower Power.”

The word in the Greek carries none of the meanings we have associated with weak. The meek, (hoi praeis) has been translated mild or gentle. The word was originally applied to the outer characteristics of things and people. It was not considered a virtue or an attitude.

Today’s meaning of meek has been watered down to the point it has lost most, if not all of its true meaning. The image most closely associated with "meek" and it’s meaning is that of the horse. The Greek historian Xenophon used the very same word Jesus used to describe a horse broken to the saddle so that it is under control.  A horse is a powerful animal. It is a symbol of strength in the Greek world. Wild and untamed the horse is a useless animal. It cannot be used for any of the tasks man has for it. However, if the horse is broken it can be used for all kinds of tasks for which it was created. It can be tamed and then taught. A tamed horse is a picture of power under control.

A truly meek person is gentle and forgiving. Jesus is challenging us to be meek in the truest use meaning of the word. As we ponder this, today, be prepared to consider a further understanding of this tomorrow.