line There is a Thin Line Between Confidence And Arrogance

There is a Thin Line Between Confidence And Arrogance

 As I stood in line waiting to check out, it was easy to over hear the conversation of the woman on the phone in front of me. She spoke without shame and regard to others. Her voice loud and careless as if she wanted others to hear her conversation. She was explaining to the person on the phone how she seen her ex at a party the other night. He was with another woman whom she believed was a downgrade compared to her. ‘He dropped a dime for a nickel, you should of seen what this girl was wearing!’ she laughed as she reached into her gucci purse to pay for her items.

I thought to myself  ‘maybe her ex thought his new girl was the dime and she was actually the nickel?’ It was obvious this woman with a freshly polished manicure and overly done makeup believed that outward appearance defined beauty. What if the other woman was sweet, caring and polite? Qualities this woman seemed to disregard. After all, her ex did leave her for a nickel.


There is nothing wrong with being confident. In fact, I believe everyone should have a certain level of confidence. However, there is a thin line between confidence and arrogance. The woman on the phone spoke with resentment and her words were covered in jealousy. Although she thought ‘He could never do better than me’ this idea was solely based on appearance. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned [Romans 12:3].


 Believers, we have to be careful of confidence becoming cockiness. When cockiness emerges, it neglects faith and the power that God can do through us. When someone gets cocky, they believe it is their own strength that deserves praise rather, knowing it is Christ who gives strength [Philippians 4:13]. God hates arrogance because it does not acknowledge him, it acknowledges the self. ‘The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate [Proverbs 8:13].’ However, confidence stems from within and grows because of God. For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught [Proverbs 3:26].

 “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” -Philippians 2:3-4

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