Paradoxically, the word “confidence” has a positive connotation in our culture while the best forms of confidence are often decried as arrogance, self-righteous, or close-mindedness. It has been a very effective way for the spirit of this age to keep Christians unsteady and lacking in boldness.
You can revel, publicly, in nearly any sin and be declared bold, confident, and brave. However, express the beliefs of Christians for more than 2000 years as simply being “what Christians believe” and it’s likely to be taken as presumptuous!
God Repays the Proud
The end of psalm 31 is an excellent text for understanding how Christians should understand the difference between pride and boldness. It starts with a very severe warning against pride.
Love the Lord, all you his saints!
The Lord preserves the faithful
but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
Psalm 31:23
This is what hangs a lot of believers up. We don’t want to be “repaid” the way this verse describes. What a terrifying prospect! It should certainly drive all of us to consider our own motives for our actions. However, the way people tend to understand pride today, the very following verse makes no sense.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
Psalm 31:24
Strength and courage are seen as positive by most in our culture, but strength and confidence in your faith?! Get out of here! If we’re not questioning our beliefs, we’re just close-minded right? Yet, while David just got done commenting on the divine threat for those who are proud, he encourages strong, courageous living for those who wait on the Lord!
The Difference and Our Backward World
The difference between boldness and pride is entirely based upon that in which you have placed your confidence. One who is confident in their own intelligence, strength, or goodness are proud and at odds with God. However, those who are boldly confident that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and the very definition of goodness are exactly what God honors.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.
Psalm 20:7-8
So the next time people criticize your confidence in our Lord, realize it is the one sowing doubt who is proud. We aren’t trusting in the goodness of our own belief, but rather the goodness, wisdom, and power of the creator of the whole universe. It is the scoffer who is believing in their own understanding.
