Blessed are the meek; they will inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5).
It’s interesting that Jesus plays off a desire for dominance as he calls us to be gentle. Jesus says that the gentle will “inherit the earth.” He means that the gentle will come out on top. The gentle will win. The gentle will dominate. Do you remember in Remember the Titans when Julius and Gerry were arguing about the other’s lack of teamwork? Julius said, “I’m supposed to wear myself out for the team? What team? Nah, nah! What I’m gonna do is look out for myself and I’ma get mine.” “I’m gonna get mine,” we say. That’s the way we think much of the time.
Jesus knows that it isn’t within people to want to lose. He put the drive to win inside us after all. We mess it up, though, for at least two reasons.
One, our vision is major short. When Jesus speaks of inheriting the earth, he’s talking about a big-time, huge gain. We fight with our wives or our husbands and because we get our way, we’ve won. Yeah. Maybe you’ve won, but what a dinky victory. It’s a short lived, often costly victory.
The second reason we mess it up is because we tend the think that the way to win is to be pushy instead of gentle. We think, “If I can be a little bigger, or have a bigger outburst, I can win.” We believe, “If I can make the better argument or make my inadequate argument louder, I can get my way.” Continue this way of getting your way, and you’ll be sorry. Jesus doesn’t bless bullies. He promises the blessing to the gentle.
When you know you are right, be gentle. And when it’s proven you were right, continue to be gentle. Or, when it’s proven you were wrong, your words won’t be so hard to swallow or so difficult take back. Besides that, you’ll be appreciated by your spouse and Jesus will be pleased.
Be gentle with your wife. Be gentle with your husband. Quit the yelling. Stop the cussing. Cease the threats. Cut out the bullying. Give up the harsh looks. Permanently suspend the sarcasm. Relinquish the right to say, “I told you so.”
Be gentle, and Jesus will lead you to the big win!