Ephesians 4.1-3
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
A worthy life—an axios life—is characterized by Spirit-empowered virtues. Humility and gentleness are two of those virtues.
Humility
This is the Greek word tapeinophrosune, and it means a right perspective of yourself in relation to God and other others. It is about respecting and valuing other people, and not inflating your interests over the interests of others. It is the opposite of self-centeredness and arrogance.
“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12.3)
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2.3-5)
CS Lewis had it right when he said, “Humble people don’t think less of themselves; they just think of themselves less.”
Gentleness
The Greek word here is prautes, and it is a key element of true, biblical humility. Prautes carries the sense of “strength under control.” It’s the idea of perfectly combining strength and gentleness. It is strength properly directed.
It is the condition of being calm, self-controlled, focused, and wise. It is an essential spiritual discipline, and though often translated “meek,” it most certainly is not meek. It equips and empowers you to see and respond effectively to virtually any situation. It is a key discipline for applying E+R=O.
Prautes does not react impulsively; rather, it invests the time to see clearly and respond intentionally. It sees the situations the situations of life with clarity and wisdom, and then responds effectively. If the situation calls for gentleness, prautes is gentle. If the situation calls for toughness, prautes is tough. If the situation calls for patience and discernment, prautes is patient and discerning.
“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness (prautes) of wisdom.” (James 3.13)
