Church Directory
Confidence vs. Arrogance
Paul Johnson, Associate Pastor, Staples Alliance Church
…Do not throw away your confidence…
What is the difference between confidence and arrogance? In my experience I find arrogance to be repulsive, whether I am indulging in it or I witness it in others. Confidence, on the other hand is an attractive quality. Why? Some years ago in my personal journaling I tackled the subject of arrogance vs. confidence. With your permission, I’d like to share a few of those thoughts.
Confidence inspires confidence. Arrogance can intimidate, turn off or make a joke of itself to others, but it will never inspire, never truly draw others to itself. It has no power to enlist, or build or direct a team toward a goal, for arrogance is self-focused, self-preserving and self-centered.
Confidence may stumble and even fail, but it can survive an occasional defeat, for it is focused on something larger than itself. It is fed and nourished by something greater than fear - it is fueled not by insecurity, but rather by a rock-solid settledness. It is a security which allows it to brazenly risk (which is why some mistake confidence for arrogance), to coolly succeed, or grandly fail without being shattered. True confidence feels no need to prove anything, and yet is proven each time it is called upon.
Arrogance, on the other hand, is the mask worn over insecurity. It’s a show, a bluff, a sleight of hand designed to turn attention away from a house of cards. It may “work” for a time on some, but only on those who are too trusting, too hopeful or too insecure themselves to pull the mask away.
Arrogance crumbles in the light, is laughed at in defeat, detested in victory.
My journaling yielded some random thoughts, which you may agree or disagree with. But it led me to ask an even more important question: where is that kind of confidence - that “feet firmly planted”, “Look you level in the eyes”, bold yet humble kind of confidence found? God’s Word yields some gems on the subject. When you have time, look up the following passages of Scripture. I believe they’ll provide some helpful insights into the development of solid, Godly confidence!
Hebrews 10:32-39 Jeremiah 17:7-8
Isaiah 32:17 Proverbs 3:21-26
Blessings.
