There is a thin line between confidence and cockiness. Everyone knows this. Especially when it comes to relationships or sports.
But the same is true in the life and calling of every believer.
If you want to be used greatly by God, a Christ-centered confidence in your calling and equipping is essential. You won’t accomplish half of what God intends for you without it. This is true whether you’re a pastor or a teacher. A high-powered lawyer or a stay-at-home mom.
On the flip side, if you want to see the favor of God leave your life quickly, let your Christ-centered confidence become self-centered cockiness. You won’t accomplish half of what God intends for you precisely because you have it.
The problem is that the two can be difficult to distinguish. What one person sees as cockiness might genuinely be God-infused confidence. What another person sees as bold confidence might actually be brash cockiness.
The consequences for not walking on the right side of this thin line can be significant. We see this played out specifically through two similar men, Gideon and Joshua, and two almost identical stories in their lives:
Gideon reduces his fighting forces to fight the Midianites. God is with him. Israel wins. God is glorified.
Joshua reduces his fighting forces to fight the men of Ai. God is not with him. Israel loses and is humiliated.
Two situations that are almost identical. From the outside, both men could equally be accused of confidence or cockiness. But there was a difference between the two. One was confident. The other, cocky.
The difference made all the difference in the world for Joshua and Gideon. And it will make all the difference in the world for you and me.
