After helping his team win American pro football’s 2014 Super Bowl, a cornerback declared in a post-game interview that he was the best player at his position, and opposing teams should send only their best players against him. His comments sparked a national discussion on the role of courtesy in sports. Although his remarks offended some people, you can’t deny that he’s supremely confident in his abilities.
What about believers in Jesus? Are we allowed to be confident, or is that somehow opposed to our calling of humility? (Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 2:3). The apostle Paul doesn’t seem to think so. In 2 Corinthians he makes it clear that we have reason to be confident before God because we are qualified and competent (2 Corinthians 3:4).
But he also clearly states that this isn’t based on our own merits but on God, who has qualified us (2 Corinthians 3:5). And He hasn’t approved us to pursue our own ends and purposes. No, we’re to be ministers of the new covenant that we have in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:6). And so, we can be confident in our abilities, as long as we recognize that it’s God who makes us good at what we do—and what we’re called to be is ministers of the gospel.
Sometimes I lament that I have nothing of any worth to bring to the kingdom, when that isn’t true! At other times, I recognize my abilities and am confident in them—failing to remember that they’re not supposed to be used for myself. So I often live in one truth or the other, but not both.
In Paul’s words, I find a rare balance between confidence and humility: I can be confident because God has qualified me, but I remain humble because I know that the work for which He’s qualified me is not my own. It’s His!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Judges 4:4-24
More:
Read Philippians 3:1-10 and Psalm 71:1-6 to see how true confidence should come from God and be found in Him.
Next:
How are you doing at balancing humility and confidence? How are you living out the fact that God has made you competent as a minister of the new covenant?
Gary Shultz on March 7, 2015 at 5:52 am
Great balance. Often in life’s arena we see the waving of the selfie flag and we see the crash and burn, but I think the world needs to see more humble confidence. The display of the blessing that allows one to continue on. May we use our gifts wisely and hold close and point to the giver.
peter chin on March 7, 2015 at 6:39 pm
“Point to the giver” is a wonderful way to describe it. As long as we are performing that one action, we can do so with complete (and humble) confidence.
Mike Wittmer on March 7, 2015 at 9:29 am
Thank you for reminding me that I must be both humble and confident, and for the right reasons.