OVERCONFIDENCE

 (Editor’s Note: My schedule requires advance posts this week).

 OVERCONFIDENCE

 There’s a beloved scripture that I’ve often revisited over the years.  It assures me that believers have the right and the mandate to gain and sustain confidence in the wise counsel of The Holy Spirit.  It’s a very powerful admonition, saying “Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” (Hebrews 10:35 – NKJV)  It would seem that Christ does expect us to have “life more abundantly” and to possess Heaven’s favor and blessings with faith, courage and tenacity. (John 10:10)

 However, New Testament teaching also teaches us about maintaining “moderation,” which is mission critical to embracing and sustaining a God-ordered, productive and balanced life. (Philippians 4:5 – Psalm 37:23)  So even regarding this important principle of spiritual “confidence,” we must exercise personal discretion and wisdom.  That is, we should never become so overconfident about our covenant connections to Christ that we fail to embrace the fruit of the Spirit, or we thereby avoid honest and regular self-examination. (Galatians 5:22-23 – I Corinthians 11:28 – Galatians 6:1)

 I’m not an avid golfer, but I enjoyed reading a story about the golfing legend, Arnold Palmer, who happened to live in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, 34 miles from my hometown.  Arnold Palmer was on the final hole of the 1961 Masters Tournament.  He had a one-stroke lead and felt that he was in really good position to win.  As the tournament neared its conclusion, Arnold saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery.  The friend waved and motioned him over, stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations!”  Taking his friend’s hand, Arnold realized that he was not concentrating on the game and was losing his focus.  On the next two shots, he hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green.  Finally, he missed a putt and lost the Masters tournament.  Afterwards he remarked, “You don't forget a mistake like that.  You just learn from it and become determined that you will never do that again.  Well, I haven't in the 30 years since.”  Never allow yourself to be overconfident.

 While believers certainly have a ‘blessed assurance’ and the God-given right to walk with confidence since “the peace of God” reigns in our hearts, we must be grounded sufficiently to avoid any sense of overconfidence that could slip into our minds or egos. (Colossians 3:15)  After all, “we walk by faith, not by sight.” (II Corinthians 5:7)  If I might be bold enough to translate this in the vernacular: ‘We believers walk in complete dependency on The Living Lord, not on our own strength or ability.’ 

 Therefore, we always look to HIM…

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!