There is great danger in trusting in oneself. Woe is pronounced upon those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight, as this self-reliance leads to deep sorrow and grief. Humanism, the belief in humanity's sufficiency without God, places man at the center of the universe, rejecting the need for divine guidance. It manifests in forms like classical humanism, which seeks wisdom from ancient human thought, and scientific humanism, which relies on modern discoveries to explain life. Both forms elevate human reason above all else, believing the mind alone can solve all problems. God designed the human mind with the ability to reason, but it is wrong to place final confidence in it. When people worship their intellect, they become proud, thinking they are sufficient in themselves. This pride of intellect is the essence of humanity's trouble, the root of sin that began with the temptation to become as gods by trusting in personal understanding. It leads to a self-centered life, where individuals look inward rather than to God, inevitably stumbling and falling. This trust in self is idolatry, exchanging the glory of God for human constructs. It fosters a rebellion against God, as seen in the attitude of self-sufficiency that denies the need for Him. Such confidence breeds moral perversion, for without God, people pursue desires that defy reason, descending into evil. History shows that human reasoning, when trusted above all, results in failure, unable to deliver from sin or provide true wisdom. The Bible condemns this self-reliance as a lie. Those who claim wisdom in their own eyes often fail to apply knowledge rightly, revealing their folly in how they live. Their lives, marked by personal and collective chaos, contradict their boasts of understanding. Despite advancements, the world remains in turmoil, showing that human wisdom cannot address the deepest problems of life or offer true purpose. Pride of intellect also causes refusal of God's way of salvation. Men and women, believing they can save themselves, reject the gospel of Christ, standing in defiance while under the wrath of God. This self-trust is the ultimate tragedy, as it blinds them to their need for divine help. God pronounces woe upon such pride, warning of inevitable calamity for those who maintain they do not need Him and can order their own affairs.

This world often promotes self-confidence as a vital sign of capability, especially in business, where the mantra seems to be to fake it until you make it. Many resources suggest repeating affirmations like "I got this!" to build self-assurance, a method applied to various goals with occasional success. Figures like Muhammed Ali exemplify this, proclaiming himself as "The Greatest there ever was!" and relying on sheer self-confidence and arrogance to elevate his status. Yet, there are warnings against such manufactured self-confidence, highlighting a natural humiliation process for self-promoters who overstep in their boldness.

At the core of the matter of self-defense lies the issue of whom we will allow to govern us. We face the choice of governing ourselves by deciding when it is permissible to kill, or submitting to God's benevolent authority and His explanation of morality. In the final analysis, we are not allowed to determine what is right and wrong; God has already done this. Our only decision is whether we will act in accordance with God's law. Human nature insists on a self clause, telling us that God's law is fine unless it goes contrary to what we perceive as our best interests. If we intentionally take another man's life in defense of our own, we are worshipping the self rather than God. The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to His law, nor indeed can be. Human nature puts its own cares and interests above God, and the result is that the carnal man will not submit to God's clear commands, even being willing to harm or kill another to protect his own interests. In taking another man's life, one acts as judge, jury, and executioner, involving the sin of presumptuousness. God has given us authority only to judge, to consider a matter in the light of His definition of right and wrong, but it is not our place to decide a sentence or carry it out. To do so presumes authority not granted to us. In the scenario of killing in self-defense, the one killing judges that his life is more important than the life he is willing to snuff out. What it really boils down to is whether a person's faith is in God or in self. Do we trust God to shield us according to His will after understanding the moral limits He has set on our actions? Our Creator has called us to a personal relationship with Him, and our trust in His nature and faithfulness will determine our responses and actions. If God is real to us, and if He is sovereign in our lives, we will conduct ourselves according to His law even when threatened, believing in His ability to accomplish His purpose and bring us into His Kingdom.