Self-confidence to God-confidence
Now, Dr. Phil, and Oprah, and Dr. Drew, and Joel Osteen, and Tony Robbins are all going to give you some ideas about how to deal with those negative voices that bark into your ear. Some might even have some advice about what to do when the voice is your's. Well, here's the good news; what you are experiencing is nothing new. In fact, even the apostle Paul dealt with this issue. Here's the even better news; God's Word - the Bible - offers us true, godly, wisdom on how to deal with it, not trendy human wisdom.
In 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Paul gives us a recipe for what I'm going to call "God-confidence." It isn't self-confidence, or self-esteem because you will let yourself down if all you do is look inwardly for affirmation and strength. We don't need to just "believe more" or "have more faith" we need to know what God has actually done for us, and called us to. We need to know what God says about us, not our own ability to believe. We don't want self-confidence, we want the confidence that is in, and comes from, God. So, here's the really disturbing truth; this isn't even really about you. Why? Because your life, and your calling, isn't about you. "What is the chief end of man?" says the catechism. "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." Man's chief end is not self-actualization. It is the glory of God. On that bombshell, let's turn to the Bible.
1. Paul had a clear understanding of his call from God.
A person should think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God. In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful (1 Cor. 4:1,2).
If you want to have confidence in what you are doing then you must, like Paul, have a clear understanding of what God has called you to. Paul knew who he worked for. At the end of the day his marching orders didn't come from the Corinthians church, the Jerusalem council, the Sanhedrin, the Roman Emperor, or anyone else. He took his orders from Christ. God calls us to serve people, because the Church is made up of people, and the lost world is made up of people. However, in our service and concern for people we must first, and foremost, have our eyes fixed on God. Paul wrote these words to the Galatian Christians, For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ (Gal. 1:10). His calling was to people, but it was from God. That means that God is the one who defined Paul's call. God is the one who defines your call too. What has he called you to?
If you are a Christ-follower then God has placed a call on your life. If you don't know what that call is then seek his wisdom in the matter. James 1:5 says, Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God - who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly - and it will be given to him. There is no doubt that God wants you to use your gifts for the building up of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:7), so he would certainly not withhold that information from you. He will also be faithful in showing you how to employ that gift(s), that is your calling.
2. Paul received his affirmation from God.
It is of little importance to me that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I don't even judge myself...it is the Lord who judges me (1 Cor. 4:3,4b).
When Paul talks about judging in this context he is not referring to people judging his soul, or salvation. He's not saying, "don't judge me for eating half a dozen Krispy Kreme's even though I'm on the keto diet" either. What he is talking about is them making a judgment call regarding his worthiness to be an apostle - a steward of the mysteries of God. His response? It didn't matter to him what they thought he should or should not do within the Church. In fact, he tells them, "it doesn't even matter what I think I'm worthy to do." The only place that Paul sought affirmation of his calling was God.
Now, this doesn't mean that the Church has no role in confirming a person's God-given call. In fact, godly counsel can go a long way in helping discern what our gifts and calling are. So, we cannot afford to ignore the wisdom of those who care about us and love the Lord. What I am referring to, and what I think Paul is addressing, are those people who are simply trying to destroy and undermine his ministry.
If God has called me to something then it is him that I am seeking to please (remember Galatians 1:10?) and if he is affirming my call then it matters not what people (including myself) say. However, we should not have a cavalier, "devil-may-care" attitude towards our brothers and sisters in Christ.They are there for a reason. God has called us to them, and them to us. Paul cared deeply about all the churches he planted throughout the Middle East, Asia minor, and Europe. I seriously doubt he would have written such extensive letters to people he didn't care about. Again, though, Paul looked to God for his affirmation - not people. That is God-confidence.
As the Body of Christ we should actively look for ways to encourage and affirm our brothers and sisters in their calling. How can we spur them on to good works instead of discouraging them and making judgment calls about what we think their value is in God's Kingdom?
3. Paul looked to God for his reward.
And then praise will come to each one from God (1 Cor. 4:5b).
Paul not only had a clear understanding of his call. He not only received his affirmation from God. He also looked for his reward to come from God. In other words, he knew who signed his paycheck. When we arrive in eternity there is not going to be a committee of people from our life who help God determine our level of reward. There is one judge, one rewarder, and his name is Yahweh.
Let me ask you this; what would your life look like if you actually lived, and fulfilled your calling as if your reward were coming from God alone? That would change things wouldn't it? We would love more like Christ. We would serve more like Christ. We would speak the truth with confidence more like Christ. It would change our marriages, our parenting, our grand-parenting, our teaching, our preaching, our business interactions, our recreation, and on, and on.
When there is a cacophony of voices chanting lies in our ears the world tells us to look into ourselves for confidence and strength. God's Word tells us to look to him. Self will let you down, just like other people will let you down. God will not. His truth about your purpose, your calling, and your identity is more powerful than the world's lies. Look to him.
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