The Rest of the Meek and the Humble

The Rest of the Meek and the Humble

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matt. 11:29.

Jesus has shown us the only way—the simple way—to enter into rest: by being humble and meek in heart. There is no peace or rest for the ungodly. The proud, vain, greedy, and those who seek honor are always striving. It does not go well with them, and they have a hard time. The vain person is always striving to make a good show in the flesh. The greedy person is always striving to increase his capital—and of course, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. The person who is seeking honor always has to defend his own reputation; he is always restless in his mind, trying to get up in this world and be noticed in every conceivable way. If he is not successful as he had hoped, he gets offended and becomes discouraged. It is to such people that Jesus calls out, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” It is hard to bear the yoke of sin. However, the burdens and the yoke that Jesus gives a person to bear are easy and light. V. 30.

It is therefore good to come to Jesus with everything that is burdensome. Let us cast all our cares on Him, for He cares for us. On the cross with Him we can get rid of this proud, vain, honor-seeking person who can never be satisfied or enter into rest. We can rest from these things, but only after he has died.

The meek and humble always abide in a blessed rest. They have given up going their own ways, which have brought nothing but a curse. By seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness first, all these other things are added to us. The things for which people struggle and strive He gives to His beloved in their sleep. Ps. 127:2. Once we have really become tired of all our own striving, we will become thankful, and will appreciate the value of knowing God’s will. He guides all things for our best, and His will for us is our sanctification.

The misfortune of mankind is that they are stubborn and rebellious against God’s will. We can be much blessed, and it will go well with us, if we humbly submit our entire life to God’s good and acceptable will. How blessed it is to rest in God’s will from all anxiety and everything of ourselves that only torments us. It is foolishness to go your own way. He leads the meek in the things that are right, and He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. Ps. 25:9-10.