A Thin Line Between Arrogance and Confidence

I had a very interesting conversation with my husband about arrogance and confidence. In church, we are taught that humble is the way and in my personal belief, it is. I never want to be seen as arrogant.

But, what got interesting as we were talking was that the more we discussed what arrogance was and what confidence was, it made us go hmm...here is how we defined them both. Arrogance is how someone perceives you but confidence is how you perceive yourself. Here is the kicker, at any moment it can shift based on who you are talking to. For example, you may think that you are very knowledgeable out topics so you are often always talking when someone brings something up. A person on the receiving end of the conversation may think that you are being arrogant and that you think you know everything. Isn't that crazy?

So, here's the thing. You can check yourself by figuring out if there is something else attached to it that is negative. When you talk, is there a change of tone or body language? Is there pride attached or a feeling of superiority. If there is, chances are you are most likely being arrogant. (The nice nasty may have slipped in) Let's go back to humble beginnings LOL.

See humility isn't a weakness. It is actually a strength because you know how to show restraint. A perfect example of this is the relationship between David and Saul in the Bible. Saul was upset that David was being recognized as someone greater than he was when the women started chanting Saul has slain his thousands and David has slain his tens of thousands. Talk about somebody upset! Saul was flipping out! Oh he has the attention of the women! No way! He had already said in his heart that David was going to take his kingdom when in fact it was his own fault that he lost the kingdom. (1 Samuel 18) Boy, I would have hated to be David at that moment! The heat was probably rising on Saul's face. So, I say all of that to say, it really is a thin line between confidence and arrogance. Make sure you are wearing the right one. Usually somewhere in between the line, you'll discover the Truth.

Giving you the ladder up,

Rosalind (Min. Elliott)