Conceit is Not Confidence

Conceit (def) - excessive appreciation of one's own worth or virtue. Confidence (def) -

the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust. Two different keywords in the above definitions help us see that we need to have confidence in what we do and know that self-reliance is not a part of the confidence we should have as followers of Jesus. Conceit is us having confidence in what we can do, and then we can brag on ourselves. In the Christian world, we have taken on a worldly way of looking at confidence, and when we place our confidence in what we can do, it is misplaced and weak. When we blur the lines of conceit and confidence, there is confusion as to "who is really getting the credit." It doesn't help clear it all up by saying something like "praise the Lord" or "thank the Lord" when the person worked so hard to make it work through their own efforts.

The following scripture gives us a handbook to go by when looking at these two very different ways of living and thinking. Philippians 2:5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Jesus gave up His divine privileges, and in doing so, He totally humbled Himself in obedience to God. Jesus had confidence in what the Father was doing to redeem mankind, even though He had to look at it through human eyes and human feelings. Part of those human feelings are exposed in His words in Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” The compassion of the Father is seen in the next verse Luke 22:43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

We say we trust God, but do we really? This is an ongoing heart battle for me, and it is like I need someone to come up to me and say, "David, it is going to be all right." That doesn't really happen, though, so I must learn to rely on Jesus alone for my strength and direction, which is the goal for my life anyway. Paul writes some very poignant words in another Philippians scripture that shows his heart in serving Jesus and those verses are as follows: Philippians 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

If I have everything laid out before me with nothing to trust God in I might become more reliant on myself and conceited to the point I leave Jesus out. Some people think they can learn themselves into a deeper faith by proving again and again that God is who He says He is and that confidence is established on their knowledge. I study a lot and spend a lot of prep time in anything I write or do, but my trust is in the Lord. The Psalmist speaks to my heart in Psalm 118:8. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.

Who do you trust? Is it God or is it yourself? Don't get too conceited by trusting yourself to work everything out. God deserves that place of honor in your heart and in your thinking. Place your confidence in the Lord and know that He will not let anything happen to you that He doesn't want to happen. He will always show up at just the right time, and it may be an angel He sends to minister to you. The following verses in Proverbs seem to speak to me today. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

It is not a weakness to trust God. It is a weakness in your faith to trust yourself. Trust the Holy Spirit given to us at the point of salvation. The Spirit is willing, and the flesh truly is weak. Matthew 26:41. Do you have the confidence in the Lord to be able to "champion" a cause for Christ? Today is the day, so get after it. Time is wasting!!!

Today's Message,

David Warren