Article September 7, 1981 Issue

Meekness makes rich

PAMELA SUSAN McKNIGHT

For most of us, the mental image of meekness is of a quiet, shy, timid person—someone not likely to count for much. In the competitive business world, the noisy classroom, the crowded stores, where would meekness get you? Aren't we a little afraid of it? Meek people often get pushed aside. And yet, Christ Jesus includes this quality in those most impressive teachings, the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."^{Matt. 5:5.}

What is real meekness, and why does it inherit the earth?

True meekness finds its source in a better understanding of God. The origin of the word "meek" is the Scandinavian root, miukr, meaning gentle. Meekness is often considered a synonym for humility. A humble person is neither selfish nor willful, because he is characterized by calm assurance and peace. Childlike openness to God's goodness is the very opposite of the aggressive struggle to get our own way. This quiet strength finds its roots in the understanding that our every need is already cared for by God.

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