The Third Key to Happiness: Blessed Are the Meek for They Shall Inherit the Earth
By Lauren Davis
The World’s Misconception of Meekness
Have you ever wondered what it truly means to be meek—and whether it’s even possible for humans to practice, or whether this quality could unlock real, lasting happiness?
In today’s world, the word meek often carries a negative connotation—suggesting weakness, passivity, or someone who lets others walk all over them. Yet Jesus turns this idea upside down, elevating meekness from 'doormat' status to a defining quality of those who are truly blessed: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5)
The First Earthly Inner Battle
From the very start, we’ve struggled with the tension between our own desires and God’s guidance. Adam and Eve’s choice in the Garden of Eden shows the first battle of the self—they wanted to do things their way, seeking independence and control instead of trusting God.
This is the same struggle we face today whenever our ego or pride takes over. Meekness is the opposite: it’s choosing patience, humility, and trust in God instead of letting our self-interest lead. When we practice this, we open the door to real peace and lasting happiness.
Meekness in Action
Consider Moses, described in Numbers 12:3 as “very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.” Despite his humility, he led nations, confronted Pharaoh, and guided God’s people through the wilderness. Meekness, in Moses’ life, was not weakness—it was disciplined strength, allowing him to act with wisdom, patience, and reliance on God rather than human power.
Modern life offers similar examples. Imagine a school principal navigating a tense conflict between teachers and parents. Instead of asserting authority to dominate, she listens, encourages compromise, and works steadily toward a resolution that honors everyone.
Though the principal could demand compliance—and maybe even go viral on TikTok—she chooses patience, humility, and measured action, demonstrating true meekness. Like Moses, she wields strength under restraint, and her calm leadership brings happiness to herself and those around her.
Theologians on Meekness
Throughout history, theologians have explored this Beatitude:
In about 393–426, Augustine of Hippo wrote that the meek “inherit the earth” not through worldly conquest but through a “certain firmness and stability of the perpetual inheritance, where the soul, by means of a good disposition, rests, as it were, in its own place” (Sermon on the Mount, New Advent).
Donald Carson, a contemporary New Testament scholar, notes that meekness is profoundly relational: it shapes how we act toward others and resist pride, ambition, and aggression (Carson, The Gospel Coalition, 2011).
Tim Keller frames meekness as self-forgetfulness—a freedom from ego-driven anxiety that allows a person to trust God fully and act gently toward others (The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness, 2012).
Inheriting the Earth: Present and Future
The second part of the Beatitude—"for they shall inherit the earth"—shifts our perspective from inner peace to God’s ultimate promise. This inheritance is both present and future.
In the present, we can experience a measure of God’s kingdom—calm hearts, healthy relationships, and freedom from envy and strife.
In the future, we will share fully in God’s restored creation, where righteousness, justice, and peace reign (Carson, 2011). Augustine describes this as an inheritance “from which we cannot be driven out” (New Advent).
A Reflective Question for You
Imagine yourself—stomach in knots over a stressful situation—releasing the need to win, refusing an imagined contest, and instead working steadily, encouraging others, and keeping your body and mind free from the weight of control.
Could it be that the very quality the world sees as weakness is the secret to inheriting the earth—finding joy, freedom, and influence in ways you never expected? Figures like Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mother Teresa show us that meekness transforms lives and leaves a lasting mark on the world.
Jesus’ promise invites us to reconsider what the world values. Happiness is not in dominance or acclaim, but in trusting God, responding with gentleness, and embracing the quiet strength of meekness. Those who choose this path inherit not only a deeper joy today but also the full blessings of God’s eternal kingdom tomorrow.
References:
Augustine of Hippo, Sermon on the Mount, New Advent
Donald Carson, “Kingdom of Heaven: Its Norms and Witness,” The Gospel Coalition, 2011, Link
Tim Keller, The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness, 2012, Link
Holy Bible, Matthew 5:5, Numbers 12:3
I’m Lauren—a writer, educator, and novelty quilter with over 30 years of experience in service and sales. I’ve taught high school English, worked as a journalist, and now run Artisan Shop USA, a marketplace supporting handmade artistry and the sharing of faith, family, and country. I’m also a wife, mom, and lifelong lover of storytelling.