Winning spiritually without being aggressive.
Sometimes, it can seem that the only way to win in life is to aggressively pursue what you want without giving much thought to others. This attitude is undoubtedly exemplified in the world around us. Countries initiate violence and war to protect their interests, take land and control resources. Amongst politicians, there are smear campaigns, mudslinging, fake narratives, and personal attacks to degrade the opposition in the eyes of others and to move agendas forward. Sometimes riotous protests cause significant disruptions and destroy property in order to coerce governments to change their policies. In our communities, we often witness bullying, bigotry and hateful language in an effort to exert dominance over others. And likely, we have either participated in or noticed manipulation, rage, and maliciousness throughout our lives because there is a failure to understand that people are more important than individual objectives. Unfortunately, sometimes such attitudes and behaviours find their way into the church. As James writes, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 5:1-3).
For some reason, we can think that aggressive displays of strength are the key to success. However, the Bible tells us that there is another type of strength that leads to genuine progress and ultimate victory in life. That is the strength of submission. No, not submission in the sense of always giving in to the wants and wishes of others. Or in being a doormat to be walked all over. But submission to the will of God.
The Biblical term for the display of such submission is meekness or gentleness. Meek people may exhibit a mild and quiet disposition, but that should not be misinterpreted as weakness. On the contrary, those who possess the quality of meekness can become an immovable rock in the face of evil. They may not lash out in anger or violence, but they will certainly speak up for the hurting, truth, justice, and God. And when others threaten them, mock them or do evil against them, they display strength by controlling their response and continuing to seek the good of all. Although meek people can experience all the raw emotions that come with their humanity, they choose to express these within the boundaries of God’s will. At the end of the day, meek people gain not by taking but by remaining faithful to God. They also ultimately win because they are able to rise above all the obstacles of life as they give themselves over to the sovereignty of God. As Jesus says in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”.
