I had someone tell me once, "I would rather be confident and wrong than be unsure and right." That phrase has stuck with me for a few reasons, one of which is the arrogance with which it was said. Confidence can be at the same time respected and repulsive. A self-confident person believes in their ability, work, or looks. A person who is confident in an organization or political party believes that the group will take care of them. A lot of how we feel about confidence has to do with what side of the equation we are on. If you are so sure that your sports team will beat your competitor that you advise everyone at the stadium of this, you are confident. However, the fan of the opposing team that is equally as sure and does not mind saying so is arrogant. The same holds true for people in political parties or other organizations. The ones we agree with are assertive, but the ones we disagree with are aggressive. I would submit to you that the problem is most likely a lot less about the viewpoint and more about the source in which we are confident.
In the midst of a great storm at sea, Paul said the following words - "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me." Paul expressed great confidence in what God had said. The surrounding verses (Acts 27:21-24) reveal the entire statement of Paul to them at this moment of crisis. These men had not eaten in several days, were throwing things overboard, and had not even seen the sun or stars for quite a while. Were it not for the fact that Paul really was listening to God, what an incredibly arrogant statement that would be! The ship's expert sailors were at their wits' end. Even Luke, Paul's faithful travel companion, testified, "And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away." Yet Paul was still bold and confident in his statement.
How could he be so confident in the midst of such doubt and anxiety? The key lies in Whom he had put his confidence in. He was not being self-confident. He actually stated several times in the Scripture that it is fallacy for us to trust ourselves. We can and will fail ourselves. This failure is simply a reality of life. He was also not putting his confidence in the structure of his society. The Roman centurion represented the government. The sailors and the master of the ship represented the economy. Both of them miserably failed. Luke was a church member and a faithful servant of God. Even he was taken in by some doubts because of the circumstances. If Paul had looked to any of these, his confidence would have been shaken. Instead, he was Saviour-confident. He stated that he believed the God, "whose I am, and whom I serve." When we are confident in the Person of God, we will not let the problems of life shake us. If God is truly in control (and He is), and if He can truly be trusted (and He can), then we have no reason to fear. Our confidence is a reflection of our faith in Him. Paul summed it up this way to the Philippians, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." The same one Who brought you into the boat can bring you back out.
In the midst of a great storm at sea, Paul said the following words - "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me." Paul expressed great confidence in what God had said. The surrounding verses (Acts 27:21-24) reveal the entire statement of Paul to them at this moment of crisis. These men had not eaten in several days, were throwing things overboard, and had not even seen the sun or stars for quite a while. Were it not for the fact that Paul really was listening to God, what an incredibly arrogant statement that would be! The ship's expert sailors were at their wits' end. Even Luke, Paul's faithful travel companion, testified, "And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away." Yet Paul was still bold and confident in his statement.
How could he be so confident in the midst of such doubt and anxiety? The key lies in Whom he had put his confidence in. He was not being self-confident. He actually stated several times in the Scripture that it is fallacy for us to trust ourselves. We can and will fail ourselves. This failure is simply a reality of life. He was also not putting his confidence in the structure of his society. The Roman centurion represented the government. The sailors and the master of the ship represented the economy. Both of them miserably failed. Luke was a church member and a faithful servant of God. Even he was taken in by some doubts because of the circumstances. If Paul had looked to any of these, his confidence would have been shaken. Instead, he was Saviour-confident. He stated that he believed the God, "whose I am, and whom I serve." When we are confident in the Person of God, we will not let the problems of life shake us. If God is truly in control (and He is), and if He can truly be trusted (and He can), then we have no reason to fear. Our confidence is a reflection of our faith in Him. Paul summed it up this way to the Philippians, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." The same one Who brought you into the boat can bring you back out.
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