Gentleness

 

A couple of weeks ago I said we would be finishing the blogs on the Fruit of the Spirit (you will be able to get all of them on the web site when we are done). Today I want to write about "gentleness" (Gal 5:23).    The Expositor's  Bible Commentary says that in the original Greek gentleness "describes the person who is so much in control of himself that he is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time." Wives don't want their husband's blowing off steam at them or their children, but instead to be gentlemen in the home. No one wants to work with a boss or co-worker who is often exasperated at them, but when people work alongside each other it is important to be meek toward each other rather than manipulative and edgy.  The Apostle James tells us to "receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (Ja 1:21b). James is talking not only about how we need to receive Christ initially, but how we need to live the Christian life. Therefore, if you want to be gentle you need to have a "learner's disposition" not a "know it all manner." As the old bromide says, "Look, Listen and Learn."  In the Bible gentleness is equated with "meekness." Our Lord Himself tells us that "The meek shall inherit the earth" (Mt 5:5)!

 

If we are going to demonstrate the Fruit of the Spirit we need to grow more gentle day by day. Give those who love you permission to remind you when you are being fussy, irritable and harsh instead of meek.  You will be a better husband, wife, parent, employee, employer, student, teacher, neighbor and human being if you work at becoming more gentle. You pray for me on this one and I'll pray for you. Let's all obey God's command to be "controlled by the Holy Spirit" (Eph 5:18) tomorrow so that we can be more gentle.