The Spirit of Meekness by C. A. Osgood

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 13, 1870

The Spirit of Meekness.

By C. A. Osgood

Meekness is that grace which enables its possessor to be submissive to the will and providences of God; that yields and obeys when God commands, however much the command may be contrary to his own natural inclinations. In times of deep affliction, it keeps him resigned and quiet. Those who have this spirit can, and do, meet perplexities, annoyances, opposition, reproach, and abuse of every kind, with a mind calm and unruffled. A “meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great price.” It adorns the Christian character. It beautifies the man, woman, or child, who wears it. It makes the doctrine of God look more lovely to those who look on, than it otherwise would. It tends to draw people toward the truth. He who suffers reproach for Christ, and remains unmoved when all manner of evil is spoken against him falsely, shows forth the excellency of true religion. He who loves his enemies, does good to them that hate him, and prays for them that despitefully use him, and persecute him, is an illustrious specimen of the power of grace, which will sometimes transform enemies into friends. God highly prizes the spirit of meekness. Those who possess it will be his in that day when he shall make up his jewels.

Our Saviour said of himself, “I am meek and lowly in heart.” This was seen in his conduct toward his disciples, bearing with their dullness of perception, their slowness in understanding his teachings, and the teachings of the prophets. Also did it appear in an eminent degree in his conduct toward his enemies. He endured the contradiction of sinners against himself, patiently. “When he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously;” and when about to die by the cruelty of his enemies, he cried out, “Father, forgive them.” Jesus bids us learn of him, with the promise, “Ye shall find rest to your souls.”

Those who occupy places of great responsibility, need this grace in a large measure. They need great energy of character, and at the same time, great meekness. They meet with many hindrances, many disappointments, and many times, with much opposition. Moses needed to be “the meekest man on the earth.” Time after time he goes to Pharaoh’s court, and demands, in the name of God, the release of the Israelites. Many times he fails of securing this. And when they are released, the great work of leading them into the promised land, devolves upon him. When this people are released from bondage, the habits they had formed in Egypt cling to them. They are not yet cured of their idolatrous inclinations. They earnestly desire the flesh-pots of Egypt. In times of trial, they murmur against Moses, and accuse him of bringing them out into the desert that they may perish. They rebel. They are ready to stone him. For forty long years this numerous people are a source of labor, care, and distress, to him. And what is his return for all this? When God threatens to destroy, he pleads with God that they may be spared! Through all his severe and long-continued trials, “he endures, as seeing Him who is invisible.”

The ministers of Christ, especially in these last days, need much of this spirit. They are called to instruct the ignorant, many of whom are slow to learn the truth, and some of them unwilling to learn it at all. Frequently these ministers are obliged to meet unreasonable and wicked men; men of corrupt minds, gainsayers, etc. Paul says (2 Tim. 2: 24–26): “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth.” Those who teach the natural sciences are obliged to be patient. And so the work of teaching divine truth is a slow and laborious work. Those who oppose the truth cannot be gained by sharp or angry words, ridicule, or harsh and overbearing manners. Impatience, and uneasiness of spirit, drive opposers farther off; and sometimes honest inquirers, too. Patience, kindness, and meekness, may win and save them. We ought to give to those “who ask us, a reason of the hope that is in us, with meekness and fear.”

In laboring to reclaim backsliders, meekness is necessary. Paul, in writing to the churches of Galatia, said: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also be tempted.” The overbearing spirit cannot restore the erring. The humble, meek, and loving spirit of those who realize that they themselves are not beyond the reach of temptation, has many times effected this, and no doubt will do it many times more.

Parents very much need this grace, in order to secure their own peace and happiness, and also that of their children. “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Fretting and scolding, reproachful sayings, and undue severity, sour young minds, provoke them to anger, discourage them from trying to do right, produce alienation of feeling, and so hinder their salvation. But the spirit of meekness and love, manifested by parents toward their children, tends to increase the affection of children toward their parents.

We should endure persecution and reproach with meekness, as Jesus did. Thus multitudes who have lived before us have done. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.” “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator.”

We should receive reproof with meekness. Said the psalmist, “Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil that shall not break my head.” When the Lord sent Nathan to him to reprove him for his guilt in the case of Uriah, he did not get angry at the servant of the Lord, but meekly replied, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Thus should we receive the reproof the Lord sends us, with meekness and patience.

We need to be in possession of this grace at all times, especially in these last days. As time advances, and the trials of the last days thicken upon us, we shall need this excellent grace more and more. Good are the promises of God to the meek. “The meek will he guide in judgment.” “Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.” Let us then seek meekness and righteousness, that we may gain an inheritance with the righteous, in the renewed earth.

C. A. Osgood.

Rochester, N. Y.