“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Philippians 3:3)
A person who wants you to “believe in them” is not to be trusted. Those who trust in themselves are not trusting in the Lord. Scripture calls them fools: “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool …” (Prov. 28:26) Jesus did not have a rosy view of men. Many believed in Him as a result of the miracles He did and pledged fidelity to Him. But He was skeptical.
“But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” (John 2:24,25)
What is it that caused Jesus to put little stock in the professions of men? He understood that men are prone to overestimate themselves. They little realize how dependent they are upon God for all things. It is one thing to believe in Christ; it is another to abide in Him.
The apostle Paul once held a high view of himself. He deemed himself a righteous servant of God because of his adherence to the law. He believed he was a true worshipper of the God of his fathers. But he came to the pride shattering conclusion that his supposed “goodness” was a bigger problem than his evil. Only by abandoning the notion that he could do anything to please God was he positioned to receive the grace that saves.
Ultimately, we are either trusting in ourselves or in Christ. God forbid we become angry at people because they don’t believe in us. We should be the first in line to distrust ourselves.