The Day Between

Cocksure Confidence

Confidence is a wonderful thing.  One definition states confidence is a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities.  Some people seem to be born with this appreciation; others need to acquire it.  There are websites devoted to building one’s confidence.  Apparently, this can be learned if it does not come naturally.

            For example, one of my sons has tried twice to make chocolate chip cookies.  He had a recipe, the ingredients, and a working oven.  Despite this the cookies turned out to be only of use to Palestinians should they run out of stones to throw at Israelis.  My son is convinced that his rock cookies are the result of a faulty recipe and poisoned vanilla extract.  It would never occur to this particular son that he, perhaps, did something wrong.  He has confidence in his ability in the kitchen.

            My dear intrepid daughter took it upon herself to teach this son how to make these cookies properly.  My son, to his credit, paid attention to her instructions only remarking a few times how tedious it was to follow the directions.  Normally, this son doesn’t like to be instructed, but two failures motivated him to listen.  Humility is a necessary companion to confidence – even if the confident don’t know it.

            Some people are confident in a conflict that they have done no wrong.  I think this is probably never true.  It always amazes me the confidence some people have that they are right and that everyone else is wrong - the pride and condescension that can come out of us when we’re sure we’re right is sickening to behold.

    

Who among you is wise and understanding?  Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.  ~ James 3:13-18

I’ve heard that folks with confidence make good leaders.  People want to follow someone who seems to know what he’s doing.  The multitudes seem to be extremely attracted to a loud, confident, apparently successful business man at this point in history.  It seems the presentation of confidence is all we need in a leader – substance, character, truth, integrity, dignity, and courage are irrelevant.  If one can entertain, proclaim riches, fight like a seventh grader, and speak in generalities – one can be president of the United States. 

            It’s a depressing prospect, but empires rise and fall, right?  The nations may rage, but the Lord laughs.

Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him; the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.  Yet the fool multiplies words. ~ Ecclesiastes 10:12-14a

            There seems to be an abundance of fools talking right now.  Where is truth in our age?

            Only One is faithful even as the nations rage.  There is only One to hold on to as the earth changes.

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.  ~ Psalm 121:1-3

            Who brings peace and resolves conflict?  The answer is not in self-righteous assurance, education, science or politics.

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace…for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.  ~ from Ephesians 2:13-18

            Confidence is wonderful when placed in the right thing.  Our own pride, prejudices, and politics don’t qualify.

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

But I say walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. ~ Galatians 5:13-17

            We can be confident in our abilities accompanied with humility.  We can be confident in our opinions sifted through the Word of God.  We can be confident in our rightness under the influence of the Holy Spirit through grace and mercy.

The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; from His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who understands all their works.

The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength.  A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, ~ Psalm 33:13-18

     Oh, how we need His mercy!