MEEK by Andrew Carruthers
Cover image: Aaron Hughs
This word has always irked me as it is easily interpreted ‘weak’. In the world of athletes meek is not an attribute that is used to describe them. We love the assertive powerful rambunctious front man even the over confident get their time in the sun but the quiet achiever is often over looked.
Adriano de Souza is seem by many as the "hardest working man" on the WSL Tour. To many observers, like 1989 World Champion and WSL commentator Martin Potter, and former top-44 surfer and WSL commentator Ross Williams, Adriano is more eager to learn, more willing to fight, and spends more time learning the game and trying to evolve his surfing than any of his peers/competitors. I’m not sure I could describe Adriano as meek, but the greek adjective praus interpreted as (meek) means gentle, humble, considerate, courteous and all of these traits require a lot of self control. I would gladly describe Adriano as self controlled at least in his approach to surfing.
We have heard Jesus described as Meek lowly in spirit. 2 Cor 10:1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you,
Matt 11: 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
M. Loyd Jones emphasises this meekness denotes a humble and gentle attitude to others which is determined by a true estimate of ourselves. So logically this attitude of meekness follows our recognition or spiritual poverty and the mourning of such a state.
Meekness is essentially a true view of oneself, expressing itself in attitude and conduct with respect to others…. M L Jones.
This unassuming almost passive nature is opposite to what is often celebrated, the assertive, achieving, self proclaiming, attitude that is prevalent in todays society. These are the people grabbing everything they can along the road of life He who dies with the most toys wins as they climb to the top over the ruined lives of others.
We of the counterculture should realise that our inheritance is intact and that the meek shall inherit the earth. The world says otherwise the strong will take everything but in the fullness of time the inheritance in Christ is bestowed upon the meek not the strong. For all the fullness of God dwells in him. Col 2:9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
*Do you live your life looking toward Christ and his inheritance or do you grab and scratch at what you can now?
* Do you proclaim and boast of your achievements and seek the accolades of others?
Gal 6:14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
1 Cor 1:31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Meekness is all about self-control and self-control is all about they denying of self and submitting to Christ.
Meekness enables us to be led by the Spirit of God. John Hagee
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
The whole point of the kingdom of God is Jesus has come to bear witness to the true truth, which is nonviolent. When God wants to take charge of the world, he doesn't send in the tanks. He sends in the poor and the meek. N. T. Wright
Meekness is not weakness, but spiritual strength harnessed for service. Joe Cothen
The meek are those who quietly submit themselves to God, to His Word and to His rod, who follow His directions, and comply with His designs, and are gentle toward all men. Matthew Henry
Men sometimes speak as if humility and meekness would rob us of what is noble and bold and manlike. O that all would believe that this is the nobility of the kingdom of heaven, that this is the royal spirit that the King of heaven displayed, that this is Godlike, to humble oneself, to become the servant of all! Andrew Murray
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Andy planted the SALT Life Community church, is the Chaplain to the World Longboard Tour and is a well-published Surf Photographer and Writer with articles across multiple magazines and newspapers.