Like most things in our culture, this attitude runs contrary to what we are told by the world. The framework for what most of the world is telling us is that you must love yourself, placing your needs and goals before all others. And yet, this is counter to what the Bible teaches. Jesus instructs us to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
But let's be honest, what is your first reaction when reading these words of Jesus?
My reaction is that sounds good, but it is next-to-impossible to realistically put into daily practice. I mean, there are too many things I need to do each day just to take care of myself, how am I also supposed to love others with that same passion and priority?
I can't.
Which is the point of the teaching in Galatians, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do . . . but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:16-23)
In Matthew 11:29 Jesus described Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart”—but He was anything but weak. He was referring to the position of His heart, which was humbled toward the Father, and saw everyone He met as people to love and serve.
Moses was considered the most humble man of his time (Numbers 12:3). Even though he was appointed the leader of Israel, he listened to the opinions of others. An example is when 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. 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. And Exodus 18:24 records, “Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.”
Moses was able to humbly listen to the advice and heed the wisdom in it because his life was focused on obeying and pleasing God. And it was Moses’ gentleness and meekness that allowed God to use him as a powerful tool.
Isaiah 66:1-2 adds another important fact about meekness: “This is what the Lord says: Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word."
Is there a greater goal for Christ-believers than to find favor with God?
