‘Gaining the world’ (Mark 8:36) has been the military ambition of many would-be world rulers.  Their method has been conquest by force; gaining ground by shedding blood.  And, to an extent, they are successful; but eventually they all die or are deposed and others come to claim their empires.  By contrast, this statement by Jesus is a radically different concept and leads to a permanent place and permanent peace for His people.  The word 'meek' is not often used in common English anymore, and is often confused with 'weak'.  However, the original Greek word really means 'gentle', 'non-assertive', 'quiet-hearted'; and in Hebrew there are additional meanings - ‘humble’ or even ‘afflicted’.  This is a huge contrast to the world's route to success.

Meekness is the quiet confidence of a contented and trusting heart which is satisfied in God – even in the midst of affliction.  Moses was such a person (Numbers 12:3).  The meek person has no need to fight or strive to achieve what God is planning to give (2 Timothy 2:24).  The meek conscience is not struggling to secure the future, but trusts that the Lord has everything in His hands, and that He will give what is right at the right time. The meek person has time to listen, time to wait, time to pray and time to praise, because he or she is totally confident that they will not miss anything of God’s best.

The statement that the meek will 'inherit the earth' is God's promise.  But what does it mean?  Jesus was quoting from Psalm 37:8-11, saying that personal anger is not God’s solution in a wicked world: “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil... But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.”   The ‘earth’, in this verse, equates to 'land' (in Psalm 37:11), referring to the Promised Land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 34:4; Hebrews 11:9).  But Jesus expanded its meaning beyond that of the Land given to Israel. So, there is a sense that meek people will occupy the space for them that God has ordained in this life and they will be at peace, however the Lord provides.  But it also has a future meaning: "a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13) – when Jesus returns to claim His kingdom.  Only those who now gladly submit to King Jesus will inherit their place and eternal peace with the King on that Day.

Our inner nature is easily inflamed to fight for what we want (James 4:1-3).  It was true for Cain, but God urged him to resist that passion: "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." (Genesis 4:7). The same spiritual discipline is essential in the Christian's life as we learn to walk in step with the Holy Spirit.  Then we will start to acquire His characteristic of meekness.  In Galatians 5:22-23 meekness is revealed in its component parts of “... love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”.  So, stop fighting, start trusting and keep on submitting ... accept whatever comes as from the Lord's hand and experience His peace.  Then see what He will do with your life now, and look forward to His ultimate reward in His kingdom of peace.