A Slippery Disposition

Did you ever see one of those “greased pig” contests? The purpose of the grease is to make the pig slippery and harder to catch. Everybody has a great deal of fun watching a bunch of guys slip and slide all over those pigs trying to catch one. Well, maybe not everyone. The pigs might say different.

While giving a lesson recently on the beatitudes, the phrase “slippery disposition” occurred to me as something that would be desirable for a Christian to have. I mean the kind of disposition or attitude in a person that would make it hard for the one who is after us to get a good hold; make it harder for him to catch us and easier for us to stay away from the evil one.

The beatitudes can very easily be referred to as God’s formula for success. I do not mean monetary success or success in the arena of politics or society. I mean true, eternal success; eternal life in heaven. That is what every Christian should be concerned with. There are several very interesting things about the beatitudes which begin the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). They all begin with the word “blessed” which describes a happiness or blessedness that is beyond the understanding of the world. It would have to be, would it not? How else could He say that those who mourn would be blessed?

Each of the first three beatitudes describes what most would think of as negative traits: poverty of spirit (which is emptying yourself), mourning and meekness. That does not sound like we are on the right track when it comes to the way to success! When does the good part begin? If you want to skip ahead to the end and find out how we are supposed to make it, after employing such humility, look at James 4:9, 10, but come right back to Matthew 5:5, because that is where we are going to find this “slippery disposition.”

The New American Standard Bible says, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Most versions say, “Blessed are the meek...” The word “meek” or “gentle” is an important one to the Christian. It is in this word that we find the grease. One part of the meaning “meekness” or “gentleness” is “under control.” The person who is meek is cool while others are hot. He does not allow himself to lose control. He is exactly the kind of person who would make a good peacemaker, one who is pure in heart and merciful. It is no mystery why the first three beatitudes are what they are. Before you can ever put on the characteristics of the others you must prepare yourself in humility, and that includes putting yourself completely under control so that you may offer yourself to the control of God.

Another meaning of meekness is self-sacrifice. It takes one who is in complete control of himself to make of himself a sacrifice. The meek person is not concerned with his own betterment. He is not defensive of himself. He does not have to have his own way. He is interested in God being glorified, not himself. This is why Moses is considered the father of the meek (Numbers 12:3). Also, consider Jesus...no one was more meek than Jesus, the Terrible Meek. The first time I read that title and knew the author applied it to Jesus, I was surprised, almost offended. How could Jesus be a terrible anything? And yet, if we consider Jesus from the point of view of His enemy (Satan) that is exactly what Jesus was...the Terrible Meek. Satan could do nothing to Him to overcome Him. He tempted Jesus, but Jesus was willing to suffer rather than give in. He had complete control. He offered Jesus everything that He came here for (the whole world) and Jesus still gave God the glory. He was not interested in His own glory over His heavenly Father’s. The worst the devil could do to Him was the very thing Jesus came here to do. How do you win over someone like that? You don’t! Jesus had such a slippery disposition, Satan could never get a good hold on Him.

This week, when you feel the old devil breathing down your neck, remember the meekness Jesus wants you to have. He did not give us Matthew 5:5 just so we would not get too full of ourselves because He wants the spotlight. He was trying to tell us what we need in order to survive. Put yourself under control. Give yourself up to God and let Him control you through His Word. There will be some situations in your life that will make it very hard to focus your attention anywhere else but at the enemy bearing down on you, but you can do it. Close your eyes (spiritually, at least), take a deep breath and even with your enemy right on your heels, give yourself fully to: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God...You shall not put the Lord your God to the test...You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only” (Matthew 4:1-11).

It may not feel like it, but you have all the strength and weapons you need to fight off a frenzied attack by the devil. You do not have to go out of your house into the world today, or the rest of this week, or the rest of your life in fear. All you need to do is slather on the grease and he cannot touch you. God gave you meekness just for that purpose because He loves you and so do I.

Donnie Bates