Humble Confidence
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” -Mark 4:26-29, NIV
“The point of the parable is not that disciples of Jesus should cease all activity and let spiritual growth just happen…The point rather is that the sovereign God is in charge of human history, and he will bring it to its destined conclusion…In the face of opposition, persecution, and trials, God’s people can be assured that the harvest day is coming when God will deliver the righteous, judge the wicked, and right every wrong.” – Wessel and Strauss
“Like the patient farmer, Jesus is supremely confident in the coming kingdom. Though beset by opposition from religious leaders and misunderstanding from followers, Jesus is not disheartened, distraught or desperate. Nor should there be anxiety among his disciples. The faith that Jesus requires of disciples is to sleep and rise in humble confidence that God has invaded this troubled world not with a crusade but with a seed, an imperceptible “fifth column” that will grow into a fruitful harvest.” -James R. Edwards
Humble confidence is unusual in the year 2021. There is a lot of proud confidence; cocky arrogance is ‘in’ right now. From sports to politics, from pulpits to big screen stars, if you have a gift or talent (or even if you just think you do) our culture encourages you to strut your stuff. Humble confidence is rare. The kind of firm trust that is not shaken by the latest cultural earthquake or personal tragedy. One might even argue that much of the chest thumping so en-vogue at this moment is not the result of confidence but the outgrowth of so little real confidence.
If confidence is trust or belief in something or someone, it isn’t a surprise that there is not much of that to go around. After all in the year 2021 who can you trust? Who can you rely on? What group or organization or government agency hasn’t faced some giant scandal that eroded any ‘firm trust’ that they will pull through for you when you need them the most. Even on a relational level there is very little reason for confidence. Our friendships, families, even spouses can do things to compromise our level of confidence that they’ve “Got our backs!”. How we handle this general erosion of confidence in human institutions and relationships is vitally important. But, if we allow it eat away at our confidence in God, then it can create a crisis. An unnecessary crisis to be sure but a crisis nonetheless. You see, for our faith to remain robust, and for our hearts not to give way to despair, we must hold a humble confidence in God. Even if all else fails. Our confidence in God is this: that He will never change and that ALL of His promises and purposes are without fail. Our confidence is that waking or sleeping, the Kingdom of God grows. Our confidence is that, no force on earth or in the heavenly realms can stop this growth. Our confidence should dispel our anxiety about the coming Kingdom. The invasion has begun with Jesus and will not fail until the second invasion brings the final harvest. The seed will keep growing and multiplying until the fruitful harvest comes, of this much we may be absolutely certain. Our humble confidence in this fact is quite independent of all the failings of human institutions, relationships or even our own self (one might well argue you’ve failed you more than all these other things have failed you in combination). My confidence as a follower of Jesus, who seeks to see others follow Jesus, should never be fickle. I am not sure one day that praying “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…” will be answered because of my obedience. Any more than I should be unsure of the same petition being unanswered because of my disobedience. To quote the old hymn, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is faithful…” Jesus’ invasion plan cannot fail. His Kingdom grows and expands. I sleep, and wake and obey and disobey and His Kingdom grows and expands. It is after all His Kingdom. And therein lies the humble confidence. Jesus has never failed. He will not now. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. So, boldly acknowledge your failings and reckon with the failings of other humans and human institutions in your life. But, don’t ever lose your confidence in Kingdom growth for behind it stands the only One that cannot fail, God Himself.