Before his 1971 fight with Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali said: ‘There’s not a man alive who can whup me. [He jabbed at the air with his blinding left.] I’m too smart. [He tapped his head with his glove.] I’m too pretty. [He showed the cameras his profile, like a bust on a pedestal.] I am the greatest! I am the king! I should be a postage stamp – that’s the only way I’ll ever get licked!’ Guess what happened in that fight? To the amazement of all, especially himself, Ali lost to Frazier. When confidence in your own ability and resources becomes pride, and then becomes arrogance, you’re heading for trouble. The Bible says, ‘Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall’ (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV). So, how do you find balance? By remembering that every gift, ability, talent, and resource that you have comes from God. Confidence is essential to success. There is nothing wrong with recognising the gifts God has given you. But the difference between self-confidence and Christ confidence is found in who gets the credit. A good way to keep this thought in the forefront of your life is to practise the art of thanksgiving each day. It’s hard to be too self-confident when you acknowledge that you are nothing without God’s grace, which is His unmerited, unearned, undeserved favour. The Bible says: ‘All of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time’ (1 Peter 5:5-6 NKJV).
