Defining a Meek and Quiet Spirit

Possessing a meek and quiet spirit is often misunderstood as someone who is either "shy" or someone who does nothing while witnessing injustice and evil befall others.

This is not what our LORD God means when He says we ought to have meek and quiet spirits. For we know that our Lord Jesus was meek in every way, yet He whipped the money changers and turned over their tables when they were turning God's house of prayer into a den of robbers (John 2:14-16, Mark 11:15-19). Why did Jesus do this? Because He was purifying God's temple and He did it twice: once in the beginning of His earthly ministry during Passover, and the second time, right before His crucifixion.

"Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy."
~Proverbs 31:8-9

Who are the "poor and needy"? We know who the physically poor and needy are because we can see them, but we can't often see who the spiritually poor and needy are; and therefore, we often neglect them. Regardless of how well unbelievers may appear to be doing (lucrative job, nice home and family life, lots of friends, etc.), in God's sight, they are the poorest and most needy because they're destined for Hell. Who else are the poor and needy? Babes (not necessarily in age) in Christ who need consistent feeding of pure, spiritual milk. Or even "mature" Christians who've been neglecting daily feeding off of God's Word.

Our Lord Jesus regularly spoke against the Pharisees, even calling them "a brood of vipers" (Matt 23:33), "children of devil" (John 8:44) and the like. By our worldly, fallible and darkened understanding, none of these acts of Christ appear to be meek or quiet. But they were, by God's holy, perfect and righteous standards. Jesus boldly stood against those who maligned the Word of God with their hypocrisy, shed light on their dark deeds, and testified against their God-displeasing lives.
"Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
~ Acts 26:19-21

God commands all His children to stand boldly and proclaim His message. So how does one have a "meek and quiet spirit" while doing this? We would be wise to follow the example of the Apostle Paul and examine his behavior before King Agrippa, Bernice and Festus in Acts 26. Paul didn't speak out of personal anger, offense or frustration. He boldly spoke and clearly proclaimed the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, without fear or hatred of men. The foundation in which Paul spoke was Christ—his great love for God, and those Christ came to save.

Paul was not motivated by any personal conviction or self-vindicating reasons. He was motivated only by God's Holy Spirit and the purpose in which the Lord Jesus sent him.

Having a meek and quiet spirit isn't so much toward men, but toward God (Ecc 5:1-3). This is what God means when He says we ought to be this way. When we are humble before the Lord, we are meek and we are quiet as we patiently and eagerly wait to listen to His voice (not our own or the opinions of others). Our greatest desire is to be guided and directed in the way of God's righteousness so that we may not be deceived by our false piety.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones."
~Proverbs 3:5-8

If we sit idly by while we witness all kinds (physical or spiritual) evil and injustice befall those who are either weaker physically or spiritually than us; if we neither say nor do anything to help them because their trouble does not directly affect our lives, concluding "it's none of my business", according to our Father God, we are sinning against Him and grieving His Spirit in which Christ suffered and died to give us.

"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."~James 4:17

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