confidence...good or bad

Two kinds of confidence. 

There is 

·       confidence (trust) in self (self-confidence) 

     and

·       confidence (trust) in God. 

Both can look the same externally and be equally strong yet they are often the very opposite. To have confidence in self in the wrong sense is exactly the opposite of confidence in God. It is believing you can achieve something solely by yourself, without God or his provisions, and empowering.

There also can be

·        good self-confidence and

·        bad self-confidence

Self-confidence in the wrong sense is not the same as saying we are confident/believe in and are thankful for the gifts God has given us (to "self"). Being confident in ourselves in the right way is good and necessary. It is based in the reality that we recognize all we are and have are gifts (i.e. not created or sustained by us - self).  

There is a wrong kind of "self-confidence" but in this instance, our confidence is ultimately in God, because we recognize all we have and are comes from him i.e. everything is a gift from God himself, the source of everything. This kind of confidence is the fruit of humility; the belief that we are who and what we are because these were given to us. The opposite of arrogance. 

But it is confidence in what we have; confidence in the abilities, strengths, and gifts God has given. In this sense, it is "self-confidence" or maybe more correctly stated as the confidence in the self God has made. 

It is ok to believe in the person God has made you to be. In fact, if you don't you won't use all he's given you to accomplish what he gave it for i.e. his glory and our joy. 

We can and should have confidence in the "self" God has created and is making us to be. Not an independent "self-made" self that attempts to advance self instead of God, but a self that recognizes they are in his image and seek to reflect him to the maximum potential he's designed them to.

The greatest gift is God himself from who everything else comes.   
The gifts God gives to us (to "self") consists of the very ¹Spirit of God (God himself as Spirit, along with the various spiritual gifts he gives us), as well as our natural abilities we are born with (e.g. athletic, intellectual, artistic etc) and the physical or material resources God provides, along with the maturity he has developed into our lives. It is all from him and we can have absolute confidence in using all these things when we do so to advance his purposes for his honor/ glory. This is the very reason he gives them and all things. 

In fact, when we faithfully put to use the gifts he gives, he gives us more.  

"His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ - Jesus, Mat 25:21  

Gift defined

The word "gift" in the New Testament happens to be the same word used for grace. 

In addition, Paul says he boasts in (has confidence in) the gospel of grace, God's ultimate gift to each of us. So we too can and should boast in this way. 

1Co_1:31  so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

2Co_10:17  "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

Gal_6:14  But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

χάρις - charis

Thayer Definition:

1) grace

1a) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech

2) good will, loving-kindness, favour

2a) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues

3) what is due to grace

3a) the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace

3b) the token or proof of grace, benefit

3b1) a gift of grace

3b2) benefit, bounty

4) thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward

Strong's Definition:

χάρις - charis - khar'-ece

From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): - acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

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Footnotes:

¹And by God's Spirit we know his love for us. This (God himself as Spirit/Love) is the ultimate gift and the source of power that moves and empowers us to pursue God and honor him. So we not only have abilities given to us by God but also the very love and desire (power) to pursue God is a gift from him i.e. our love is caused/inspired by his infinite love for us. 

For a discussion on how the Spirit of God moves us to obedience click here. 

For a discussion on what it means to operated in the Spirit click here.