We Need A Little Patience

Introduction

"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain." —John Adams, 2nd president USA

John Adams recognized that prosperity enabled flexibility as the gains of powerful men made way for their descendents to be, arguably softer men. But there is a problem in that progression: eventually a generation would rise up that was incapable of holding or managing those gains and they would be lost. And probably the generation after that would be seek to distance themselves from the powerful men for whom they no longer felt allegiance.

Until one day necessity requires a generation on powerful men to raise themselves up again.

Up until the insanity that is post-pandemic America (fast approaching pre-apocalyptic America), one of the great questions we grappled with societally is “what is a man?” Clearly, we failed to answer that question because the question we grapple with today is “what is a woman?” The reason we are grappling with that question is because of the number of men trying to become women; clearly we failed to define manhood satisfactorily. The collective definition of manhood divided into two extremes (hard and soft), both becoming caricatures in the process.

Thankfully, there are quite a few men who have engaged the conversation with real answers, recognizing that men should be capable of enduring and exacting great hardness, exercising power, while also exercising great control so they can be gentle.

What does that have to do with the Beatitudes? Everything.

Transition

The better attitudes for a better life that Jesus used to introduce His manifesto, all strike us a bit sideways; they are unexpected. Today’s is no exception.

Illumination

Matthew 5:5 NKJV

5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Meekness Isn’t Weakness

The first issue we tend to have with this attitude is that when Jesus says “meek”, we hear “weak”.

Modern dictionary definitions include phrases like “overly submissive or compliant” (Dictionary.com). Even definitions of the underlying Greek word include words like “gentle” and “mild”.

Jesus gives us a living breathing example of how He defined meekness.

Matthew 11:29 NKJV

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

The word translated “gentle” is the same word translated “meek” in the Beatitudes. How did that play out in Jesus’ life?

He was approachable and a favored guest at celebrations

He elevated the value and role of women far more than others in His day (or ours, for that matter)

He accepted children into His company

He healed even the most marginalized

But Jesus’ life was not all about gentleness, He was capable of extreme hardness.

He cleansed the temple…twice

He endured all of the events leading up to the cross and the cross itself

The simplest way to understand meekness is by recognizing it as strength or power under control.

Matthew 26:52–54 NKJV

52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”

Inheritance Isn’t Immediate

It is both appealing and appropriate to understand that we will inherit the earth. The word translated “earth” denotes “land”; we will possess the land along with the influence and affluence that possessing land brings. But not yet...

When do you receive an inheritance? After someone dies.

Who has to die? The current possessor.

Well who is that and when is that?

Psalm 37:1–11 NKJV

1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. 10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. 11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

So, who possess the earth today? The wicked. When will we inherit it? After they die. When will they dies? When God destroys them for their wickedness. When will that be? We don’t know.

Conclusion

Meekness is waiting for God to deliver the world to us, not us going out to conquer the world. There is one virtue that we know of that when cultivated will allow us to retain our meekness since it requires waiting. What is that virtue? Patience; the ability to wait for what we want.

Like meekness, patience is in pretty short supply in our world. Patience doesn’t sacrifice our strength. Patience doesn’t force our way. Patience allows us to be happy with what we currently have until we are given more.