Article December 25, 1937 Issue

Meekness and Teachableness

BARRETT STUDLEY

In numbers we read, "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth." We know that a weak or timorous man could not have led the twelve tribes through forty years of nomadic habits, and prepared them for the conquest and settlement of Canaan. Therefore, it is clear that the meekness of Moses could have had in it no element of human timidity, false submissiveness, or lack of confidence in God.

Weakness of character is no part of Christianity. Therefore, Moses' exemplification of meekness is of value to all modern Christians who have to face the problems of modern life. Moses was ready to learn of God. He lived in the early days of human history. It was important that he should teach his people true obedience to God, and to do this he must first learn it himself. It was because he was quick to learn of God that he successfully led others. His meekness lay in his readiness to listen to God, and understand.

It is a human custom to regard education as learning acquired by attendance at educational institutions for certain periods of time. On completion of formal courses of study, one may no longer think of himself as a student. He may cease to keep his consciousness in a constant state of receptivity to new ideas. Being contented with whatever knowledge one has already acquired is a subtle form of pride. This contentment may be the opposite of arrogance, being expressed only as a gentle refusal to consider the value of new thoughts or views. Nevertheless, it may still be a form of pride, and many people have undergone much needless suffering through just such gentle, but obstinate self-sufficiency.

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