opposite of gentleness in the bible

But what does it mean to be gentle? Gentleness means taking into account someone or something's well being. This means that when gentleness exists in your life, its because God has planted it there. But taking even a few minutes out of our busy schedules to express our love and affection to our spouse can make a world of difference in our relationship. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. Evil has a beginning and its end will be everlasting. As Paul said, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ) We never know when our kindness will lead someone into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Consider Revelation 21 as a passage to meditate upon. It is described as a quiet spirit, will not harm a bruised reed the shield of your salvation. Instead, we gently express what we believe without being critical or judgmental. It is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit by good work and a gentle tongue. All Rights Reserved. He was always willing to forgive those who had sinned against him and he always treated others with respect, no matter who they were. In the Bible, gentleness is also called meekness, and it is a prominent virtue in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness. And these are the people whom I admire the most. Jesus teaches us, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). However, there are many situations for which it requires great strength of character and self-control to be gentle. The biblical concept of gentleness is based on the idea that humans are made in the image of God and are therefore to be treated with dignity and respect. In Galatians, Ephesians, and Colossians the word is used in lists combined with things like humility as virtues and graces. Verse 2, "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.". Its not easy to achieve but worth striving for because then you can live at peace with yourself and others all around you. This is what made him different from all other religious leaders of his time and it is one of the things that continues to make him loved and admired by so many people today. But the reality is that war is more of a surface behaviour, something seen, rather than exposing the deeper things taking place inside. In addition, gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit, so when we choose to respond with gentleness, even in tough situations, we are bearing witness to the power of God working in our lives. Doing so creates a closer connection and will save you from needless hardships in your relationships. Click here to read more verses about gentleness. When we think about gentleness, we often think about it as a weakness. But the Bible speaks differently. Gentleness is when the stronger restrain their strength for the sake of the weaker. If you want to see real, biblical gentleness, open your bible to one of the gospels, and reflect on Jesus's words and actions. What comes to your mind when you think of gentleness? His consolations are spoken gently ( Job 15:11 ). That kind of mass violence is the opposite of kindness, goodness, and gentleness. Its not easy to achieve but worth striving for because then you can live at peace with yourself and others all around you. The apostle Paul stated that "a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be . The Fruit of the Holy Spirit What is joy? Harshness is usually the response of someone with little power trying to attain it through violence. Colossians 3:20 (esv). 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. The world is full of harshness and rudeness. We are to exercise our spiritual strength in love. Instead, gentleness is a strength that comes from God. The next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, take a moment to ask God for his gentleness, and then extend that same grace to those around you. Be subject to and obey God's word. All rights reserved. He is gentle with you. So, what does gentleness mean? unkindness. When we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Against such things there is no law. Jesus has been relentlessly showing me that my character IN HIM is gentleness & self-control. "He will feed his flock like a shepherd. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We take those $ and give them to developing our Children's Programs. True gentleness, however, is just the opposite. It is the opposite of harshness and roughness. Gentleness isnt weakness; its not passive or submissive either. People who are gentle tend to be happier and more content with life. It Yields good fruits in the gentleness of christ by a gentle spirit and a gentle answer. Is it? It requires great strength and self-control. A gentle touch or kind word can go a long way in building trust and rapport, fostering cooperation and obedience. Against such things there is no law. He was a rough man by trade, but when it came to leading men to Christ, he employed great gentleness. I have been helped in the area of gentleness, Youre welcome glad to hear its helpful! In our increasingly polarized society, Christians are also succumbing to the idea that what we really need is brute strength to get things done. For more help incorporating gentleness into your parenting, consider working with Meaghan.Learn More About Meaghan here.Enjoy this post? But you, man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance andgentleness (I Timothy 6:11). The Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek NT defines it this way: Prautes denotes the humble and gentle attitude which expresses itself, in particular, in a patient submissiveness to offense, free from malice and desire for revenge controlled strength, the ability to bear reproaches and slights without bitterness and resentment; the ability to provide a soothing influence on someone who is in a state of anger, bitterness and resentment against life the word indicates an obedient submissiveness to God and His will, with unwavering faith and enduring patience displaying itself in a gentle attitude and kind acts toward others, and this often in the face of opposition.. Baseness or wildness. Opposite of the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered, Opposite of civility, politeness, courtesy or gallantry, Opposite of the sum of all attributes that are feminine or convey womanhood, Opposite of sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others, Many of the world's ills can be traced back to society's general, Opposite of the quality of abiding by strong moral principles, Opposite of the state, act, or fact of being calm and composed, Opposite of the class of people having an aristocratic status. Gentleness is typically used as an opposite of harshness. Its a way of dealing with people, yourself, and God. He supposed that the prisoners had escaped. Im too self-centered to stop and kiss my childs scraped knee. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "ab522d57b5eb8560ccf33254c1125cdc" );document.getElementById("e218d56cc5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. What the Bible is . When we humble ourselves and remember that we too are sinners in need of forgiveness, it becomes easier to extend grace. Its a quality of character. It stands in contrast to baseness ( Deuteronomy 28:54 Deuteronomy 28:56 ), harshness ( 2 Sam 18:5 ), and wildness ( Job 41:3 ). Both qualities come from God and both are fruits of His Spirit at work in our lives. Here are some steps you can take to learn how to be more gentle with others: 1. It is the opposite of pride, haughtiness, and self-exaltation. Advertisement What is the value of gentleness? Harshness is usually the response of someone with little power trying to attain it through violence. hardness docility, intentional mildness roughness docility, intentional mildness abruptness steepness harshness imperviousness docility, intentional mildness precipitousness brutality unkindness Filters Most terms are nouns Suggest Consider Galatians 5:23 which says that gentleness is part of the fruit (or evidence) of the Holy Spirit within us. Photo credit: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages. Gentleness is an important virtue because it makes the world a better place. Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and its not just a nice thing to be. Jesus' words mirror those spoken by David: Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. We should also work at controlling our tempers with grace, kindness, patience, forgiveness, love and respect for others. Sharpness, coldness, or evil. The Bible is filled with examples of gentleness, both from God and from Jesus. We may picture someone who is easily intimidated or who shrinks back from conflict. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23) "I'll believe it when I see it.". Its a quality that we should all strive to embody, especially in our relationships with others. But more specifically we grow in gentleness by practicing it. I justified it as being 64 and still having children at home (Intellectually challenged). You canread my full affiliate disclosure here. It is not weakness, nor does it mean that we should never stand up for ourselves. The law cannot give us the strength to be gentle. In other words, its not weakness; its strength under control. This post may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission at no extra charge to you, if you choose to purchase through one of the links on this page. He was said to have been cracking a walnut with a sledgehammer. of the flesh" "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Gal. Always be humble andgentle. Instead, we gently express what we believe without being critical or judgmental. A soft Answer shows us Gods Gentleness and points us toward the tree of life. Each aspect of this fruit is characteristic of Christ Jesus. When a Christian leader falls, it is almost always due to a lack of self-control and personal discipline. It can only tell us what we should not do and why its wrong. There are many who feel that this is one of the most important aspects of his life and teachings. Listen more than you speak or act (James 1:19). You and those around you reap many benefits by prioritizing gentleness. The Oxford Dictionary defines gentleness as, "the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered." Kindness is literally a part of gentleness; the two are intertwined, and therefore when one is portrayed, so is the other. Gentle people are kind, caring, and considerate of others. And it is to those who are gentle and meek who will inherit the earththe gentle are the ones who receive Gods rescue. This is why this grace is listed among the fruit of the Spirit. Gentleness may be one of the greatest needs in our day. He emphasizes the gentle aspect of meekness toward others. Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselveswith compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12). . It's a beauty that cannot fade away. Its the opposite of harshness, and it means that we dont try to force our beliefs or ideas on others. ( Matt. In most of these instances it is used to indicate the one who will be taught by the LORD, is lifted up by the LORD, who will be adorned with salvation and saved. The word was also used to describe the meekness of Moses in Numbers 12:3, and in Psalm 36:11 it is the meek who will inherit the earth. Paul showed kindness and gentleness toward those who persecuted him (see Acts 23). In the Old Testament, gentleness is illustrated in the bible as a stream or river (Isaiah 8:6) and also to a shepherd caring for his flock of lambs (Isaiah 40:11). Extend grace when someone offends you, even if they dont deserve it. When we're gentle with ourselves and with others, we represent and experience Him. It requires humility and thankfulness toward God, and polite, kind behavior towards others. Before we can begin to unpack what it means to have gentleness we must first look into the meaning of the word. Teach Them Obedience. Its a quality of character. Galatians 5:22-25. Christlikeness begins with a willingness to forgive and move forward. We need His help to be gentle! You will be blessed and rewarded by God when you get to heaven and receive His peace and favor here on earth too. Fruit of The Spirit - Gentleness. Church leaders are admonished to be "not violent but gentle" toward persons under their care ( 1 Tim 3:3 ); it is a quality they are avidly to pursue ( 1 Tim 6:11 ). We may thinkthat those who are harsh will get things done, but we have to look at the fruit. Do you ever find yourself thinking this way? opposite of gentleness in the biblehavelock wool australia. Its not a weakness, but a strength. Great damage has been done by Christians who have wielded God-given authority for their own ends instead of for the kingdom. Speak respectfully to everyone. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; Galatians 5:22-23. True gentleness, however, is just the opposite. Honestly, a change in our worldview/theology would do a great deal of work here as well. 5:22). We do this whenever we feel afraid of the future. It is used in the OT to show God as being a kind and benevolent ruler. But what is gentleness? In the Scriptures gentleness is at times translated as meekness. We learn to make their aims our aims. There are two other types of peace. Proverbs indicates that gentle words turn away wrath and are a tree of life (Proverbs 15:1,4). So, what does gentleness mean? In this verse, Paul makes it clear that gentleness is not something from the Law or from human effort or will power; rather, it comes from Gods grace through faith in Jesus Christ. I am a huge fan of the show The Curse of Oak Island. Its about a couple of brothers and their friends searching for a treasure on an island in Nova Scotia. Your email address will not be published. We Must Recognize Our Sinfulness and Our Dependence On God. Gentle Like a Shepherd. There have always been arguments on whether it is an attribute to desire or avoid. We also model for them the importance of exhibiting self-control and respect. So when the Messiah came at last, many assumed he was going to be a cultural and political Savior,. Gentleness [N] Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. . What is the opposite of gentleness in the Bible? The opposite is "unbridled anger, harshness, brutality, and self-expression." ("Self-expression" is the picture of someone who struts and shows off.) Bible Verses About Protecting The Environment, Bible Verses About Protecting The Innocent, Bible Verses About Protecting The Vulnerable, Bible Verses About Pretending To Be Someone Else, Bible Verses About Proclaiming The Word Of God, Bible Verses About Praying For Lost Souls, Bible Verses About Premarital Relationships, Bible Verses About Practicing What You Preach, Bible Verses About Praising God In Hard Times, Bible Verses About Praising God With Music, Bible Verses About Poverty And Homelessness, Bible Verses About Power In The Name Of Jesus, Bible Verses About Practice Makes Perfect, Bible Verses About Plagues In The Last Days KJV, Bible Verses About Plagues In The Last Days, Bible Verses About Physical Pain And Healing. They are often areas where we carry deep wounds and trauma from our past. . If the previous search had been crushing a walnut with a sledgehammer, the current team is crushing a walnut with precision lasers and analyzing content all the way through the process. But the opposite is true. GENTLENESS. The power of our words can be life-giving and diffuse a tense situation. Consider what would happen if the omnipotent God was characterized by harshness with his creatures made of dust. When we are gentle with our children, we send the message that they are safe and loved. They also tend to have better relationships with others. Be considerate of others feelings and needs. Speak the truth but watch your tone so that the truth will be well received, however painful it may be. Remembering the end of the story can be helpful as well. Isa 53:7 ). The Bible says that gentleness is not soon angry. (1 Cor. Gentleness helps us experience Jesus. In doing so, we reflect the character of our Heavenly Father and demonstrate his love to the world. Its a way of life. The fruit of the Spirit is gentleness. Why is it important for Christians to be gentle? We grow in gentleness much in the way that we grow in every fruitwe abide in Jesus. Gentleness is a virtue that is praised in the Bible and throughout history. The Bible teaches us that we should be gentle in all our relationshipseven with our enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-28). A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1). Take out time to visit our Website for more information on similar topics. When we humble ourselves and trust in Gods strength, we can show gentleness even to those who are difficult to love. 3. While many view meekness as a weakness, it is actually strength under control. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. God is gentle with us, and we are called to be gentle with others. The picture would be exponentially worse than a very small child trying to hold a kitten, not wielding his power correctly and doing irreparable harm to the small animal.

Hockey Player Last Names 5 Letters, Scholl Foot Powder Discontinued, How Was Tsar Nicholas Ii Related To Queen Victoria, Baby Chinchillas For Sale Massachusetts, Articles O