Chanukah Night 7 - Humility

Chanukah Humility…

We continue to count the nights of Chanukah and we have reached day seven. We have seen and observed the progression of the fruits moving toward issues in the heart. Goodness and faithfulness are traits from within. The next one is as well, although we often look for it in actions.

On night seven the candle we light is HUMILITY.

Here is the definition of humility:

the quality of having a modest or low view of one's importance.

The Cambridge English dictionary says this:

the quality of not being proud because you are aware of your bad qualities:

I, personally, appreciate the Cambridge definition because it says, “you are aware of your bad qualities.” If we stop and think about people we believe are humble, this would be a characteristic they portray.

There are many verses in the Bible about being humble, or that give the exhortation to be humble. One of my favorite is in the book of Micah. Interestingly enough, we once again have a word difference between most translations and the Complete Jewish Bible.

Micah 6:8 (ESV)

He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 (CJB)

Human being, you have already been told

what is good, what Adonai demands of you —

no more than to act justly, love grace

and walk in purity with your God.

In this instance, the CJB uses the word, “purity” to describe being humble. I guess in many ways that is true. If we consider our “bad qualities” and have a “modest view” of ourselves, than we are cleaning ourselves and doing our best to be pure before God.

There are LOTS of verses in Proverbs about humility… I encourage you to google them and read them. So many reminders that humility is highly important in our daily walk.

Jesus taught about humility:

Matthew 23:12 (CJB)

for whoever promotes himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be promoted.

I Peter 5:7 is another well known verse about humility:

Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the right time he may lift you up. Throw all your anxieties upon him, because he cares about you.

This verse is literally telling us to “lower ourselves” under God’s hand. When we submit to Him, HE will lift us up. I love how this verse says to “THROW” our anxieties on Him! When we KNOW that HE cares for us, than HE will LIFT US UP!

As we are moving through these fruits of the Spirit we can definitely see how humility would be an issue of the heart. We can show ourselves to be humble, but we must remember that GOD KNOWS the heart. HE sees the inner workings and our thoughts.

I have been part of discussions which touch on the idea of a “false humility.” Sometimes we try to “live lower” than someone else, and talk about how we don’t have the same “worldly goods” or the same thoughts as the other person, but inside of our hearts we have pride. It is a form of pride when we compare ourselves and say we are “lower,” but our hearts are far from being lower. The reason we are making the comparison is so that people will think better of us, which is NOT being humble. This is the idea behind false humility. It is not easy to explain this, but I pray you get the idea.

Our reflection during this time should be looking inward and examining our hearts. Are we quietly submitting to HIS will for our lives? Are we seeking HIM in SPIRIT and TRUTH? When we follow HIM, than we can be humble and lower than others…

Our daily walk should reflect HIS LOVE and LIGHT to those around us. Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t allow the enemy to creep in and bring pride to your thoughts. The minute you begin to believe you have all the answers and promote yourself is the minute that Adonai will bring things your way to humble you.

I think these verses about LIGHT can also bring understanding to humility:

Luke 11:34-35

The lamp of your body is the eye. When you have a ‘good eye,’ [that is, when you are generous,] your whole body is full of light; but when you have an ‘evil eye,’ [when you are stingy,] your body is full of darkness. So take care that the light in you is not darkness!

Don’t let your “evil dark eye of stinginess” affect your walk. Be GENEROUS and HUMBLE as you let your LIGHT SHINE. When people look into your eyes let them see HIS LOVE.

Happy Chanukah!

Rose