Martin Field asks the question, “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.” (Overhead 1)
Their official insignia - 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 entitled, “Cower Power.”
As we come closer to the end of our current series, The Fruits of the Spirit, we stop at one that is, at times, a challenge to express - gentleness which often in the past has been referred to as “meekness.”
I suggest this morning that we call it the “gracious” fruit because to be gentle is to be gracious. And to be gracious is a critical demonstration of our commitment to Christ and evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I like what Chuck Swindoll has to say about gentleness and why it requires such strength:
“In our rough and rugged individualism, we think of gentleness as weakness, being soft, and virtually spineless. Not so! ... Gentleness includes such enviable qualities as having strength under control, being calm and peaceful when surrounded by a heated atmosphere, emitting a soothing effect on those who may be angry or otherwise beside themselves, and possessing tact and gracious courtesy that causes others to retain their self-esteem and dignity.... Instead of losing, the gentle gain. Instead of being ripped off and taken advantage of, they come out ahead!”
I saw and video graphed gentleness being expressed in the midst of great power and strength at the Toledo Zoo this past summer as the family and I observed a baby gorilla and its mother. Here is a brief clip of that experience. (By the way there are two babies and two mothers) Video clip
What strength, what power, and what gentleness the gorilla mothers express! They could easily crush those small ones. But they don’t. They give us a clear picture what gentleness truly means. Gentleness is a fruit that requires great strength because it requires graciousness.
As I searched the Bible this past week regarding gentleness, I came across a couple of verses that I believe give us some very, very important and key concepts regarding gentleness that God expects us, as Spirit filled and Spirit led people, to demonstrate in our lives. Each has something important to say about gentleness.
Our first stop is Matthew 5:5, that was read a few moments ago:
“God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.”
A few months ago, Susan gave me a copy of an interview with Jane Pauley, the longtime NBC reporter and former Today co-host that appeared in an Indianapolis Woman magazine that she had been given.
As the article concluded, it noted that Pauley no longer had close family in Indiana as her parents had passed away some years ago. And when asked about her years growing up on the eastside of Indianapolis, she was quoted as saying something to effect of “looking in the rearview mirror of her life and seeing the dignity of ordinary lives in Indiana.”
The dignity of ordinary lives - that could be a great description of what passes for gentleness, couldn’t it?
In this segment of scripture Jesus is beginning His three years of ministry with the twelve. And He begins with a presentation of some qualities that are essential for being a follower and one of them is gentleness.
RVG Tasker in his comments on this segment says that these eight characteristics are, among other things, “a declaration of the blessings which all those who display [these] virtues experience in part, and will enjoy more fully hereafter.”
Now what is a blessing? It is important to understand this word because it gives us a fuller meaning to the place of gentleness.
The Greek word for blessing is eulogia. E-u-l-o-g-i-a, eulogia. It means “eu” or well and “lego” or to speak. In other words to bless some one is to speak well of them. (Eulogy comes from this word as well.)
So we could read this verse as “God speaks well of those who are gentle and lowly.” Why then does Jesus say this?
A couple of reasons, supported by scripture: First, pride inhibits God’s blessing and God’s work in our lives. We see this in various gospel accounts when Jesus confronts those who are spiritually proud and what it has done to them and others.
Luke 11:43 and 44 is a good illustration. Jesus is eating at the home of a Pharisee where to the Pharisee’s amazement Jesus does not go through the ceremonial washing prior to eating as required by the religious requirements. A conversation starts in which Jesus says in verses 43 and 44, “How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For how you love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the respectful greetings from everyone in the markets! Yes, how terrible it will be for you. For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on.”
That’s not very gracious and gentle is it? Jesus has turned out to be a rather harsh dinner guest. But His point is to help those who had so much “religion” that they really had no understanding that gentleness and humility are a part of the Messiah’s Kingdom. A gentleness and humility that seem not be in operation in their lives and faith at all.
Second, the Psalms make a very clear connection between the lack of humility and gentleness and closeness with God. We understand Psalm 73 very well because we can identify with the Psalmist who, as we read in verse 3, “envied the proud” that seemed to live a pain free and carefree life that included, verse 6, wearing pride “like a jeweled necklace.”
But, as we further read along in verses 17 through 20, further thought is given regarding those who live proudly and the realization is reached, in the midst of the Psalmist’s worship, that the proud and wicked are soon swept away in an instant.
Gentleness, unlike pride, creates space for God in our hearts and lives because those who are gentle are open and responsible to the work and presence of the Holy Spirit.
Our second stop is at two verses that declare on the human side the value and the place of gentleness in our witness. The first verse is Ephesians 4:2:
“Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”
The Church of Jesus Christ is made up of imperfect people who have problems that sometimes are overwhelming and faults that sometimes are disgusting. Gentleness puts both into perspective.
Gentleness acknowledges the imperfections, problems, and faults but because of the love that we are commanded by God to have for one another, gentleness becomes a witness and a way for us to live with one another and help one another with those faults. The following story illustrates this point.
Davon Huss tells the story of John Wesley who once had an officer, (a military officer, it seems from the story,) which made for a wonderful traveling companion.
“He was brilliant and agreeable in conversation,” notes Huss, “but there was one serious drawback - his profanity. When they changed vehicles, Wesley took the officer aside and, after expressing the pleasure he had enjoyed in his company, said he a great favor to ask him. The young officer replied, “I will take great pleasure in obliging you, for I am sure you will not make an unreasonable request.”
“Then,” said Wesley, “as we have to travel together some distance, I beg that, if I should forget myself and just start swearing, that you will kindly reprove me.” The officer immediately saw the motive and felt the force of the request and smiling said, “None by Mr. Wesley could have conceived a reproof in such a manner.” It worked like a charm.
Wesley demonstrated gentleness in a tactful way. Expressing gentleness does not mean that we gloss over issues and conflicts that need to be resolved nor settle for a faith that is only halfway in its commitment. It means that we learn how to tactfully deal with the challenges and opportunities of living out our faith commitment in the midst of daily life.
Which brings us to our second verse, Galatians 6:1. “Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not fall into the same temptation yourself.”
FB Meyer, a preacher of another generation makes a very insightful and statement about this verse, and as he does so, stresses the place and importance of graciousness. “When we see a brother or a sister in sin, there are two things we do not know: First, we do not know how hard they tried not to sin. And second, we do not know the power of the forces that assailed them. We also do not know what we would have done in the same circumstances.”
So much is said of not being judgmental these days. We quote Matthew 7:1 quite freely these days, “Stop judging others, and you will not be judged.” We hear ourselves saying, “It’s their life, they can do what they want to with it, I am not their judge, God is.”
But, what happens when someone that we love and respect has fallen away from the faith? Let them go their merry way? Or do we reach out to them and help them get back up and start following Jesus again?
I have not had a good track record in this regard for fear of being rejected or yelled at or intimidated. And yet here is Paul, writing under the inspiration and direction of the Spirit, saying to us, “Gently and humbly help your fallen brother or sister get back up.” Emphasis is on gently and humbly. What does this say to us about gentleness?
As we read a little further in the passage, we hear a couple of things that a gentle and humble attitude both uses and creates that can help us support and encourage one another.
Verse 2 “Share each other’s troubles and problems,” verse 3, “Don’t think of yourself as too important,” verse 7, “You reap what you sow,” verse 9, “Don’t get tired of doing what is good,” and verse 10, “When we have the opportunity, we should do good, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.”
Gentleness enables us to share the bumps and bruises and life. Gentleness enables us to learn from one another as we care and serve one another. Gentleness enable us to sow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness as we go along because they have been sown in our lives by the Spirit and others who are filled and led by the Spirit.
Gentleness gives us strength to keep doing what is good so that, like the Psalmist, we do not envy the proud and the wicked and find that our lives do not count in the end. Finally, gentleness gives us the ability and opportunity to do what is good and right and just, to all people, but also to other believers so that they are encouraged and strengthened in their life and walk with Christ.
Dean Guptil, in a sermon on this same subject, quoted Thomas Watson, the founder of IBM; “Really big people are, above everything else, courteous, considerate and generous-not just to some people in some circumstances-but to everyone all the time.” Guptil goes onto say, “He could have been talking about Jesus.”
Well will I remember the graciousness of a camp director that I worked with 23 years ago who showed gentleness in a moment when certainly did not feel gracious. It was the last night of this particular camp and one of my campers headed barefoot to the bathroom in the middle of the night and cut him self on a grate that is used to cover a fire pit beside the cabins where we stayed.
Seeing a pool of blood on the floor next to my bed, when he had returned and told me, “Jim, I cut my foot,” I had my assistant counselor wrap the wound (he used about a ½ roll of toilet paper) while I went to get the director. Soon we were on the road, around 2 AM to the nearest hospital, about 30 minutes away.
We had not gone far when Brandon asked if the stitches would hurt. “No,” came the gentle reply from Reed, “they won’t hurt.” But what did I want to say? “Yes! Yes! Yes! They will hurt so bad that you will die! The needles are a foot long!” But I refrained. Reed’s graciousness also was demonstrated when the first hospital refused treatment and we had to go to another hospital for care.
Gentleness is not a sign of weakness, but of great strength. As James says in chapter 3 and verse 13, “If you are wise and understand God’s ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth.” Let us allow the Spirit to make us more gracious. Amen.
(Overhead 2) Next week we conclude our series with a look at self-control. But, I want you to help me with that sermon and be ready to briefly share during the sermon as follows.
This next week I would like for you to think of one way that this congregation has expressed or continuous to express each of the fruits that we have examined: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness.
I will be asking for one volunteer for each fruit to then come to the front so that all can hear how our church expresses these important qualities as a congregation. I hope that you will be here. Let us now sing, “Gentle Shepherd.”
(overheads are available from me at pastorjim46755@yahoo.com, ask for 110903 svgs)
