Be Careful Who You Listen To: Pride Can Sound Like Confidence

“Be careful who you listen to. Pride can sound like confidence, but pride will build itself up by tearing others down. Confidence will build upon truth at the cost of no one but self.”

There is a difference between confidence and pride, but sometimes that difference can be difficult to hear.

Both can speak boldly.

Both can sound certain.

Both can say, “I know what I believe.”

Both can even quote Scripture.

But eventually, the fruit reveals the difference.

Pride often needs someone else to be wrong so it can feel right.

Confidence doesn’t.

Pride Needs Someone Beneath It

One of the dangers of pride is that it rarely introduces itself as pride.

It may call itself discernment.

It may call itself boldness.

It may call itself “standing for truth.”

And sometimes we really are called to stand for truth. Scripture certainly doesn't teach us to compromise simply to keep everyone comfortable.

But there is a difference between standing for truth and standing on someone else.

Jesus warned about this attitude when He told the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

The Pharisee prayed:

“God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are…”— Luke 18:11, KJV

Notice how he established his righteousness.

He compared himself to everyone around him.

His confidence in himself required him to look down upon someone else.

The tax collector did the opposite:

“God be merciful to me a sinner.”— Luke 18:13, KJV

Jesus said it was the tax collector who went home justified.

Why?

Because humility doesn't require pretending that truth doesn't exist. Humility simply recognizes that I am also someone who desperately needs grace.

Confidence Doesn't Need to Destroy Someone

Biblical confidence is different.

Confidence can say:

“I believe this is true.”

without adding:

“And therefore everyone who disagrees with me must be stupid, deceived, evil, or false.”

Confidence can defend Scripture without attacking someone's character.

Confidence can correct error without enjoying someone's embarrassment.

Confidence can disagree without needing to humiliate.

Paul gives us an incredible picture of this:

“Speaking the truth in love…”— Ephesians 4:15, KJV

Notice that Scripture doesn't tell us to choose between truth and love.

We are called to both.

Truth without love can become a weapon.

Love without truth can become compromise.

But truth spoken in love becomes something God can use to bring growth.

Look at the Fruit

This is why we must be careful who we listen to.

Someone can sound incredibly confident and still be operating from pride.

Ask yourself:

Does this person's teaching continually point me toward Christ—or toward how much smarter they are than everyone else?

Do they spend more time proclaiming truth or attacking people?

Can they disagree with someone without questioning that person's motives?

Can they admit when they are wrong?

Are they willing to be corrected themselves?

Because Scripture tells us:

“Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.”— 1 Corinthians 8:1, KJV

That word edifieth carries the idea of building up.

And that gives us an important distinction.

Pride builds itself up.

Love builds others up.

Even When Correction Is Necessary

This doesn't mean Christians should never correct false teaching.

We absolutely should.

Scripture repeatedly tells believers to test what they hear, guard sound doctrine, and recognize deception.

But even biblical correction has a purpose.

Paul told Timothy:

“The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…”— 2 Timothy 2:24–25, KJV

That is powerful.

Even when someone is wrong, our goal shouldn't be to win against them.

Our hope should be that they come to truth.

Correction should seek restoration, not humiliation.

If exposing someone's mistake makes us feel bigger, we should examine our own heart before celebrating.

Confidence Is Willing to Pay the Cost Itself

True confidence doesn't demand that someone else pay the price for what we believe.

Sometimes standing on truth will cost us.

It may cost popularity.

It may cost relationships.

It may cost opportunities.

It may cause people to misunderstand us.

Jesus never promised that following Him would make us universally accepted.

But there is a major difference between being rejected because we stood faithfully for truth and being rejected because we treated people terribly while claiming to represent truth.

Peter wrote:

“Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”— 1 Peter 4:16, KJV

Biblical confidence is willing to bear the cost of conviction without making someone else the sacrifice.

Examine the Way We Speak

And this isn't only about being careful who we listen to.

It is also about examining ourselves.

When I talk about someone I disagree with, am I trying to reveal truth—or prove my superiority?

When I correct someone, am I hoping they grow—or secretly hoping everyone sees that I was right?

When someone challenges what I believe, do I immediately attack—or am I humble enough to listen, examine Scripture, pray, and test my own understanding?

Because I have been wrong before.

So have you.

We can stand confidently on what we believe Scripture teaches while remaining humble enough to say:

“Lord, if I have misunderstood something, correct me.”

That isn't weakness.

That is confidence placed in God rather than ourselves.

Truth Doesn't Need Pride to Defend It

We live in a culture where the loudest voice often appears to be the strongest voice.

But volume isn't authority.

Insults aren't discernment.

Arrogance isn't boldness.

And tearing someone down doesn't prove that we are standing on truth.

Jesus was full of grace and truth.

That should matter to those of us who claim to represent Him.

So be careful who you listen to.

And perhaps even more importantly, be careful about the voice you are becoming.

Pride builds itself up by tearing others down.

Confidence builds upon truth at the cost of no one but self.

Stand firmly.

Speak truth.

Correct when correction is necessary.

But never believe you have to destroy another person in order to prove that you are right.

Truth is strong enough to stand without pride holding it up.

Pastor Scott