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(as presented by Lisa Bishop)
In the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul reminds us to put no confidence in the flesh but to put our confidence in The Lord. “Boast in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: (Philippians 3:3b-4).
And then in verses 5-6 he starts a laundry list of reasons for his flesh boosting confidence: “Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless (Philippians 3:5-6).
In his days before following Jesus, I can see Paul pounding his chest with pride as he read through this list, but now that his allegiance is to Jesus and he is living his life for God, his posture is different.
Even with his own impressive pedigree, Paul warns us to put our confidence in the Lord and not in our accomplishments, in our own abilities.
We can so easily find ourselves boasting and bragging about our achievements that we can become arrogant and prideful. Proverbs 16:18 signals us about misplaced confidence when it says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Now does this mean we can’t be confident in our abilities? No, but it does remind us that our ultimate confidence is not in ourselves but in Jesus himself.
On the other hand, maybe you are not arrogant and prideful and boastful. Maybe you sell yourself short and shrink back because you don’t think you are enough or that you are inadequate. That is putting confidence in your flesh too because you aren’t relying on who Jesus says you are and your identity in him. Thinking less of yourself is not the antidote to pride. Placing your confidence in Jesus is the ultimate prize.
Confidence in the flesh can go both ways. Boasting and hiding when our confidence is misplaced. What or who is your confidence dependent upon? Ask God to reveal areas where you are boasting in your flesh and not in him.