Our Strong Confidence

"In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. ²⁷ The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death."

Proverbs 14:26-27

Self-confidence is often viewed as beneficial but the Bible teaches preoccupation with self is a snare.  To put confidence in self is to put confidence in man, and Psalm 118:8 says plainly "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."  Better than self-consciousness is for God's people to be cognisant of God's presence and promises.

Many of the things which provide self-confidence for people are transient and dare I say--vain.  I grew up watching sport with ads on television aimed at balding men and how re-growing your own hair bolstered confidence in the workplace or with women.  Other ads targeted men who still had hair and in the space of time it takes to shower an ageing fellow could be "back in the game" with hair, eyebrows, and beard devoid of unsightly grey.  Samson was a young man with flowing hair who had self-confidence and women in ample supply yet this misplaced confidence led him to ruin.

It is a good thing when our self-confidence is shaken because it shows we have been relying on ourselves, abilities, or listening to the praises of people rather than seeking and relying on the LORD.  In Christian ministry self-confidence is a snare because we can only serve the LORD and walk uprightly through faith in Him.  Woe to the man or woman who brims with self-confidence to do the LORD's work!  When the criticism is relentless, people leave the church because of you (and tell you this to your face), and you feel an absolute failure, what good with self-confidence do you then?  In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and in Him we have a place of refuge.

How liberating and wonderful it is to be free of the snare of self-confidence which leads to the fear of man and vain effort to please men.  Degrees of success, however, allow self-confidence to secretly wrap its coils around our hearts again.  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life which gives us confidence our feet shall not be moved regardless of what happens to us because we stand by the grace of God on the foundation of Jesus Christ.  Having been called, chosen, and loved by God we submit humbly to His sovereign rule, bowing our grey and bald heads in praise and worship of One who alone is worthy.  He is our strong confidence Who endures forever.