Expressing Confidence in Others

2:3 "This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all."

The apostle here continues his thought from verses 1-2, explaining why he chose to write the Corinthian believers instead of visiting them as he had previously planned. He wrote them a severe letter instead of paying them a severe visit, a visit which he thought would grieve them even more and damage his relationship with them. Again he says that if they are stricken with grief they will be unable to bring him the joy that he usually derives from them. All this is repetitive. But one new element has been added: Paul here tells them he was confident that they would respond appropriately to his letter, bringing him joy again (which is exactly what happened - see 7:6-7).

This is another precious jewel, another glimpse of the Christ-like love Paul had and we need. Paul (and the other NT writers) frequently expressed confidence in their readers, even though at times the opposite appeared more likely.

In effect, Paul is saying, "I just knew you would come through and respond well to my admonitions. I knew that my joy would be a result of you again."

What Paul is expressing here is more than just niceness. One duty of Christian love is to think the best of others, and that means thinking that they are going to succeed.

A good example of this is that after dire warnings about the consequences of falling away, the author of Hebrews expresses confidence in the very people he is worried about:

"But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way." (Heb.6:9)

And after a severe warning about shrinking back, he expresses confidence that they, himself included, are going to make it:

"But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul." (Heb.10:39)

Another place we see this is in Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Even though he always complimented his readers at the beginning of his letters, Paul was so disturbed about what was happening in the Galatian church that he left out any affirmation. However, after his severe warnings, he says to them:

"I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view." (Gal.5:10)

Paul uses expressions of confidence regularly:

"We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command." (2Thes.3:4)

"Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say." (Phm.21)

In 2Cor.9:1-4 Paul expresses confidence in the generosity he knows they will show in donating to the collection for the poor of Judea.

It wasn’t just that the people Paul worked with were very promising people. It wasn’t that Paul was just an unusually trusting, optimistic person. Paul expressed confidence in others out of love, and rejoiced to do so:

"I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you." (2Cor.7:16)

Is this naivete? Is this seeing things through rose-colored glasses? No, it is Biblical love. It is based not on the promise of men, but on the faithfulness of God, who finishes what He starts:

"I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil.1:6)

In what way is it loving to express confidence in others? Well, it is therapeutic. It motivates and inspires people to live up to our confidence. When we expect people to fail, they often live up to our expectations. Expressing confidence in folks helps them along, it encourages them, it reminds them that God is at work in them, that they can do all things through His power.

O Lord, give me grace that I may not be a hearer of Your word only, but also a doer. Expressing confidence in people is a wonderful and edifying way to love them. Forgive me for doing it so rarely. Please fill me with grace and humility, that I may use this good tool as a way of building those around me, and stirring them up to live for You.