A Word About Meekness

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.  (Matthew 5:5)

When I studied this chapter I was a bit confused.  The author focused on personal behavior, choosing to be nice, not speaking words that are offensive to others.  Then he went into using power to your own advantage, either as a student, a child, a parent, boss, etc.  I started to wonder "Where is the meekness?  Where does that all fit in?"  You see, I was thinking that meekness means to be quiet, shy, soft, maybe even weak, and several other synonyms.  I wasn't seeing where he was going.

Then he started to talk about Alma, when he gave up the kingdom to preach the gospel.  He didn't want to power of being the king, but choose to serve God and help his fellowmen.  Christ also refused to be called a king, running away when the people wished to elevate them to this standard.  He denounced Satan when he was promising Christ all the kingdom, even though it wasn't his to give.  Paul said "put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering" (Colossians 3:8, 12)

The author finally then brings it all together for me.  He explains that when we cultivate meekness we care less about who is the best, has the most, or who is powerful, and concentrate on how we can help others.  Alma knew that he would be better off not being the kingdom and working with the people.  He didn't want the love of the world, but was very meek in his wish to help others, not tear them down, or rule over them.  So then the author wonders, so why are we told that, because Alma was meek, that he would inherit the earth?  He gave up the kingdom, but why give him the earth?    What does it really mean to 'inherit the earth'?

By being meek and submission, we are learning to be more like Christ.  Since the world is his, He can give us everything, if we accept the Atonement into our lives and do what we need to do to return to Him.  We can inherit a place in the kingdom of God and inherit everything our experience on earth can make available to us.  

"On that day we will finally understand the the strength we gain through our meek, gentle, and unselfish service to the Master was the only power genuinely worth seeking.  The rest was just distraction."

Meek?  Focus on the Lord and not on what the world can give me, or what the rest of the world is doing.  Keep focused on what is right and looking for how I can do good each day.  Humbly look over what I am doing and find ways to be better.  Do it without the witness of the world.  Everyone doesn't need to see what good things I do because then I will be elevating myself.  Step off the throne and get busy doing good.

This chapter was a bit harder to understand, but I feel I might understand it a little better than before.