19. What help and counsel is there for self-confident persons?

¹⁹ In contrast to those who feel a measure of inability and lowliness, others, because of circumstances, accomplishments or backgrounds, may feel a large measure of self-confidence. Such persons, too, find counsel in the Word of God that is helpful to them. All of Jehovah’s people are “sheep” of his flock, and that includes those who have special privileges and responsibilities in the congregation of God’s people. From among the symbolic sheep, shepherds are taken so they can lead and assist the flock, but they must still remain “sheep” of the flock and must pay attention to themselves that they do not take themselves too seriously and become high-minded. If they are high-minded or become so, Jehovah cannot continue to use them, because he does not favor the proud and the haughty. “Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own Son.”​—Acts 20:28.

21. What counsel do the Scriptures give proud persons, and why?

²¹ If a man’s blessings and privileges have made him proud he has lost the needed quality of humility of mind and heart and he will fail unless he changes, “because God opposes the haughty ones.” (1 Pet. 5:5) “Pride is before a crash, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. Better is it to be lowly in spirit with the meek ones than to divide spoil with the self-exalted ones.”​—Prov. 16:18, 19.