I. Introduction
A. Dependent Order of Really Meek and Timid Souls
i) J. Upton Dickson, Christian humorist
ii) His pamphlet Cower Power
iii) Acronym DOORMATS
iv) Motto: “The meek shall inherit the earth…if that’s okay with everyone.”
B. Our idea of humble or meek
i) Lowly
ii) Not worthy of inheriting anything
iii) Nobody wants to be meek
iv) Pushover
C. Our scripture
i) Matthew 5:5: 5Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.
II. The Biblical view of humility
A. The Greek word is praus: the middle between excessive anger and excessive angerlessness or a wild animal, like a horse or lion, that has been domesticated
i) William Barclay writes: “Aristotle used this word to describe the ‘happy medium’ between too much and too little anger”
ii) We all know people who are on those extremes
a) Managers who are extreme Type A personalities
b) Family members who are overbearing and dominate the conversation
c) People who let others walk all over them
d) People who say ‘Yes’ despite the hardship it may cause in their life
iii) The middle ground
a) People who are ‘even-keeled’
B. Moses
i) Killed an Egyptian slave master
ii) Stood up to Pharoah on multiple occasions.
iii) Led slaves for forty years through the desert and wilderness to make them a new nation
iv) Stood up to the grumbling and the back-handedness of the priests
v) Not what we would consider humble or meek
C. Jesus
i) When the people of his hometown sought to run him off, he walked through the crowd
ii) He overturned the tables of the money changers in the Temple
iii) He stood with dignity through two trials
iv) He took the beating from the Roman guards
v) Hanging on the cross he forgave those who sought his death
vi) He blessed a thief who repented
vii) Our definition of humble or meek doesn’t fit
D. Redefining humility
i) Calm assuredness of who you are
ii) Knowing when to get mad and when to let it go
iii) A strong, dignified presence
III. Inherit the Earth
A. Under our definition, this is not a reality
i) People who are doormats cannot be given the earth
ii) Would you trust the earth with a pushover?
B. Under the Biblical definition, this is a reality
i) People who fit the Biblical definition have a certain peace about them
a) They could be struggling, but they are at peace knowing that it is just for a season
ii) They laugh more
iii) They are in control
C. Under this definition and this promise, humility and meekness are virtues to be sought after
IV. Call to Action
A. Where do you find yourself?
B. If you are on one of the extremes, how do find the center
i) Prayer
ii) Bible Study
iii) Quiet Time
C. It’s hard to share God’s love when you are on the extremes
