What do you want others to see?
That may depend on where you actually place your confidence.
Is your confidence in your intellect? Then you may want your intellect to receive the attention of others. Then it may be very important that others are aware of how smart you are. You may find various ways to communicate to others that you are much smarter than they are. You may talk about others, chuckling that others “just don’t get it.” Not like you anyway.
You may place your confidence in your intellect, finding ways to communicate that they are not only bright but you are brighter than most others. Yet, is your intellect a precious gift of God or is it something in which you use to get attention?
Is your confidence in your body? Then you may want your body to receive the attention of others. Consequently, Facebook posts or Instagram pictures may seem to regularly be highlighting one’s body. Of course, one social media, if a person wishes to regularly display her/his body, this will draw attention. For many people this includes objectifying one’s body so that various parts of the body receive attention almost as if one were an object instead of a person. Yet, is your body a precious gift from God or is it something you use to get attention?
Is your confidence in your emotions? Then you may want your emotions to receive the attention of others. Men and women have been given such an array of possible emotions in which to experience life and to communicate to others. However, there are some people who seem to only sing one emotional note. On a regular basis they seem to be either outraged or offended. Others may have problems but they want everyone to notice them! Yet, are your emotions part of the color and fabric of a human being, or are they something you use in order to get attention?
Is your confidence in what you possess? Then you may want your possessions to receive the attention of others. There are people who want you to know all about what they have just purchased. The purchase may be clothes, a vacation, a new car or home, etc. Much of their identity seems to come from the high standard of living they enjoy. Yet, are your possessions blessings for which you can be grateful, or do they define who you are?
When my confidence is in Jesus, it is Jesus Christ living in me who I will want to receive the attention of others. You may see nothing else, but I will want you to see Jesus who lives in me. “…Christ in you the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).