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For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NASB
There is treasure hidden in Philippians 1:6.
Most people don’t see it, and it took me years to find this secret. The word translated “confident” derives from the Biblical word “faith.” Our walk with Jesus must be confidently rooted in faith. As the author of Hebrews writes …
Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 ESV
Today, in our culture’s business orientation of decision making, we demand facts before action along with spreadsheets and supporting data. If the numbers don’t line up, we hesitate. Yet, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “We walk by faith and not by sight.”
My epiphany in thinking about confidence began with these questions – do we have confident faith in serving God or do we walk according to the reasoning of committees and a reliance on the opinions of experts? Do we believe Jesus and take steps of obedience?
As a pastor of a larger church for forty-nine years, my ministry was slowly engulfed in meetings, the reading of many books outlining the current thoughts of Christian thought leaders, and working toward hard-fought consensus among congregants.
Cautious note: I believe there is a place for all the items described in the previous paragraph.
But my questions caused me to reflect upon the most important callings in my life. When Jesus said to me, “Start a ministry that reaches the young people of Springfield.” Or “Go to Russia in 1991 and help the Russian missionaries Rick and Heather Ives.” Or “Buy a large commercial building as a church home for Fellowship Church even when there was little money in the bank …”
Would any of these events have happened if my confidence had not allowed me to just say yes to Jesus, then take steps of faith, without entangling myself in the often faith-deadening of too much reasoning?
We must walk with accountability, thinking together while striving for unity, as the organization of a church should be honored. However, there comes a time for bold faith, and discerning the difference between a confident faith-step or belaying the decision from godly wisdom, is the challenge for church leaders.
As Jesus said, “Will I find faith when I return?” (Luke 18:8)