Gentleness Divine.-

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 21, 1897

Gentleness Divine.—

Editorial

Gentleness Divine.—

The fifth fruit of the Spirit named in Gal. 5:22, 23, is “gentleness”—in the Revised Version, “kindness.” “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness.” Gentleness is “softness or sweetness of disposition,” not only under favorable conditions, but unfavorable. It must be considered in connection with long-suffering; for the test of true gentleness is the condition indicated by long-suffering.

Goodness, Kindness.—

The original word is defined to mean “usefulness, moral excellence, gentleness, goodness, kindness.” It means more than mere mildness. Mildness may indicate an almost entire want of spirit, or indifference. Mildness may refer to the mere outward manifestation. Some persons may be mild or kind through fear. The tiger is tamed in the same way. Others may be kind and courteous because “it pays” in a business way. But true gentleness, or loving-kindness, springs from within. It is the fruit of love, the acting out of the desire to minister to others. As it is born of the Spirit of God, it is divine. As Dr. James Hamilton has truly said:—

It is love holding intercourse with those around it. It is that quiet influence which, like the scented flame of an alabaster lamp, fills many a home with light, and warmth, and fragrance altogether. It is the carpet, soft and deep, which, while it suffuses a look of ample comfort, deadens many a creaking sound. It is the curtain, which from many a beloved form wards off at once the summer’s glow and the winter’s wind. It is the pillow, upon which sickness lays its head and forgets half its misery. . . . It is considerateness. It is tenderness of feeling. It is warmth of affection. It is promptitude of sympathy. It is love in all its depths and all its delicacy. It is everything included in that matchless grace, the gentleness of Christ.

Not Weakness.—

Gentleness is not indicative of weakness, although many act as if they so regarded it. There are many boys, youth, and men who would quickly and strongly resent it if they were told they were not gentlemen; and yet they would scorn to be called gentle men. But gentlemen means gentle men, men who are gentle. It does not imply weakness; it is, when exercised under strong provocation, the evidence of strongest self-control—self-control for love’s sake. The heart in which it dwells comprehends more than the momentary insult, the quick word, the unlovely display of human nature on the part of him or them who offered the provocation; it sees human souls at stake, eternity of loss or gain, and it is gentle for sake of the soul that does the wrong. Gentleness is founded on the strong principle, born of the Spirit of God, of love to men. There were or are none stronger than Christ, and none so infinitely gentle.

Gentleness Is Considerate.—

It considers the case of the one with whom we have to do. It puts ourselves in his place. This is what Christ did. He put himself in the sinner’s place, met all his temptations, bore all his infirmities, with the infinite strength and patience of divine love; and hence he sympathizes with all suffering humanity, and is gentle toward all. It was when we were in sin that the gentleness of God won us. “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness [gentleness] and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.” Titus 3:3, 4. So of old God cared for his people even as an eagle cares for her young; and even when they in their sinning refused his care, “his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.” “In all their afflictions, he was afflicted.” And so it is that an apostle beseeches us by one of the strongest appeals to our gratitude,—“by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,”—the gentleness of the mightiest, for all power is in him.

Be Gentle.—

And so also it is that the minister of God is exhorted not to strive, “but be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient;” “to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.” Another apostle tells us that “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” O, for more of the meekness and gentleness of Christ in these days of selfish hurry, bustle, care, worry, and misery! It would win to Christ more lost souls than all the argument, theology, traditions, rituals, pomp, or numbers. Kindness, gentleness, will open a heart closed to all things else. It will awaken love when all else finds love dead. It is love’s most mighty weapon in the Christian’s mission to fallen man. But man is not to depend on expecting it from others, but from God; and he is to give freely to others, hoping for nothing. Thus shall he be able to say with one of old, “Thy gentleness hath made me great.” Thank God, there is gentleness for all in Christ Jesus. Letting Christ abide in the heart, the ungentle will become gentle, the harsh mild, the rude courteous, the unloving, hating, and harsh disposition loving, and kind, and tender. Ask for his Spirit; he is willing to give it. Receive it, submit to its blessed will, and it will bear its own fruit.