Confidence vs Arrogance

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. (Lamentations 3:40 NIV)

I've spent much of my life trying to give young people a confidence they can do anything. It's really a key part of our American culture. Young kids dream about being astronauts, the president, a fireman, a ballerina, or a dog.(yes, I have a granddaughter who thought when she grew up she could be a dog.) we tell them to dream big and reach for the stars. 

There is a downside to this "can do" attitude. 

Our country is full of people who think they can do no wrong and one of the greatest barriers for nonChristians is the idea of sin. We think so much of ourselves! We're proud of our accomplishments. The idea that we are not all that great or that we are sinners goes contrary to our culture. I am a sinner. The gifts I have in my life come from The Lord. My self confidence keeps me from seeing my weaknesses and faults. As a Christian I walk a fine line of living with confidence and being arrogant in the face of God. I can't take credit for the wonderful things in my life. The many blessings from my savior are GIFTS.  Nothing I have or have done comes from me. It all comes from The Lord. When am I going to see that?

I need to be a leader when it comes to seeing my own weaknesses. I can constantly remind others that my wonderful life is from the grace of Jesus. It's not me. It's not MY doing, but it's from Christ who lives in me. If we go through the early years of life thinking we can do no wrong, or survive without Christ, we are wrong. I need to be able to share that truth with love and grace. Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.

The Arrogant should tremble

Romans 11

 ¹⁷ If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, ¹⁸ do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. ¹⁹ You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰ Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Rich Mullins has a song that helps us realize we need God!

I have had so many times in my life where I thought I was invincible, only to come crashing to Earth. Christians are just as arrogant, maybe more, than non-christians. Somehow we take God's promise and take that to mean WE are untouchable. Our Arrogance can really get us into trouble. God brings us to our senses. All the gifts and blessings we have are from the GRACE of God. They are not by our own power. They are not because of our great works! We must remain humble and pray for God's strength through all times. When things are going great and we feel invincible we need to praise God for his blessings and his wonderful Grace.

I am not the creator of the Sun!

Acts 3

 ¹¹ While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹² When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 


I have said it before. I will say it many times. I am nothing. As a matter of fact, I am less than nothing. Peter and John would say the same thing. They had just witnessed the power of God through the healing of a lame man. To the people in the temple, John and Peter performed the miracle. John and Peter knew better.


I wish more people were like John and Peter. Our society and this entire planet is filled with people who act as if their own power and "godliness" were the reason for their success. We see it in politicians, business people, pastors, athletes, educators, musicians, actors, and almost every other walk of life. There is no power except that granted by the God of the Universe. Yet, so many people never acknowledge the giver of power. God, in his grace, provides us with gifts and blessings. Yet, we ignore him and his power. We take the credit he deserves. Can we take credit for the stars in the sky? Do we cause the sun and moon to rise and set? What power do we have to change the seasons or create a tree?  We can not take credit for these things and we certainly can not take credit for the blessings God has granted.


Dear Lord, I beg your forgiveness for my arrogance. I know you are the true giver of strength and power. You are the giver of success and failure. You hold all the answers. We have no success except through you. Thank You for those gifts. Thank You for your grace, mercy, and love. Amen!

I exalt me!

Psalm 75 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹ We praise you, God,
   we praise you, for your Name is near;
   people tell of your wonderful deeds.
 ² You say, “I choose the appointed time;
   it is I who judge with equity.
³ When the earth and all its people quake,
   it is I who hold its pillars firm.^[b]
4 To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’
   and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.^[c] 5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;
   do not speak so defiantly.’”
 ⁶ No one from the east or the west
   or from the desert can exalt themselves.
⁷ It is God who judges:
   He brings one down, he exalts another.

Arrogance is not a positive character trait. I have been listening to Donald Trump on the news lately. It appears he is the front runner in the early race for the Republican nomination for President. I can't imagine we won't have another choice. Mr. Trump is as arrogant a person as I have seen. Arrogance according to Miriam Webster is: 


an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions.

I can truly say that Donald Trump fits this definition to the extreme. I can't say what type of President he would be, but can he truly be as great as he says he is. He brags about his business sense. He fancies himself as a ladies man, and he views himself as a great Television star. Does that mean he would be a great President? I think I look more for a humble person to represent the people of the United States. I look up to a person who is more "human" and down to earth. If you look at our present leader, I get the same feeling of arrogance from him. Is that a pre-requisite for running for President. Would the American people vote for a President who speaks softly and has the heart of a servant. I'm afraid we wouldn't. Can you think of a politician that publicly portrays a humble servant's heart? I want my leaders to be confident. I want them to have convictions. I want them to lead. But, I do not want them to be arrogant! There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance.

When did it become popular to "exalt" ourselves? When did it become unfashionable to serve others? Jesus set the best example how to serve. Paul was arrogant and then transformed by God and chose the role of a servant. We need to be more servant like. We need to humble ourselves before the Lord, worship, and serve him and him alone!

Thanks God!

Psalm 50 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹⁴ “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
   fulfill your vows to the Most High,
¹⁵ and call on me in the day of trouble;
   I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
 ¹⁶ But to the wicked person, God says:
   “What right have you to recite my laws
   or take my covenant on your lips?
¹⁷ You hate my instruction
   and cast my words behind you.
¹⁸ When you see a thief, you join with him;
   you throw in your lot with adulterers.
¹⁹ You use your mouth for evil
   and harness your tongue to deceit.
²⁰ You sit and testify against your brother
   and slander your own mother’s son.
²¹ When you did these things and I kept silent,
   you thought I was exactly^[c] like you. 

God knows us. He knows every thought we have about each other and about ourselves. We are not smarter than God. We are no match for his wisdom. He is God and we are not! The Jews of the old testament thought they could win the heart of God by all sorts of sacrifices. You could make sacrifices for different sins and different wants. When it boils down to it, God doesn't need our sacrifices. Really all God wants from us is Thanks and Praise! He doesn't need it, he just wants it. But, most of us are too good for praising and thanking God.

When we ignore God, he just sits silently. When we try to take control of the world, he just sits by and watches. When we sin, it pains him, but he just let's us go. His silence doesn't mean he likes it or even accepts it. He have given us free will. He has promised not to interfere. He knows what's best. He knows what we need.He knows what is right and what is wrong. His silence is not an endorsement for what we are doing. He WANTS us to come to him. He wants us to need him. He just sits and waits. He wants us to need him. He mourns when we don't. He doesn't want our sacrifices. He wants us to ask for help. He wants us to ask for his wisdom. He will not become a better God if we worship and praise him. But, we will be infinitely better when we rely on him!

Thanks God for wanting us. Thank you Lord for giving us free will. We praise you for who you are and the blessings you have so willing given. Thank You for sharing your wisdom. We are not God! You are and we ask your forgiveness of our arrogance. Amen!