“Vanity and narcissism are the enemies of courage. We define vanity and narcissism as the compulsive need to be praised, to be liked:
for this people give up their courage.”
“The vain and narcissistic person seems on the surface to overprotect himself, not to take any risks and in other ways act as a coward because he thinks too highly of himself. Actually, just the opposite is the case. He has to preserve himself as a commodity by which he can buy the favor and praise he needs, because without that honor from men he would feel himself to be worthless. Courage arises from one’s sense of dignity; and one is uncourageous because he thinks too poorly of himself.”
“Rather, he doesn’t think enough of God, and too much of other men.”
i.e. Arrogance is a low mind and needs honor before men.
A man trying to fear the LORD
doesn’t have time to fear anyone else.
“How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek glory that is from the only God?” John 5:44
“Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but they did not follow Him, for fear they would be rejected by other people.” John 12:41
When courage begins to emerge – when a person begins to break the pattern, a pattern of life devoted to getting others to admire him…
…it might get ugly, for a bit.
Who knows what is right? Who is good but God?
“These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my Word.” Isaiah 66:2