Stubbornness

We have all had our moments in life where we have been quite stubborn regarding a specific situation and unwilling to change. However, stubbornness is not a good thing, especially between you and God. There are many dangers involved with stubbornness that will hinder you in life.
“So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Are you Asahel?” He answered, “I am.” And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?” However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still.” – 2 Samuel 2:19-23.
There is a lot to unpack in this story, but the main point of this is that Asahel was being very stubborn, which ended up killing him. Abner warned Asahel many times to turn away and quit chasing, but Asahel did not heed those warnings. If we get so stubborn that we won’t change our ways and consider the warnings of others, it may lead us to a harmful spot in life physically or spiritually. This is why when God warns you of something or you don’t have peace regarding something, to really pray into that and take heed of it. It will save you from going down a very bad path, or even at times save your life. Another point found in this story is that you can chase and chase things, but you will never end up reaching them. Those things are the things of this world. Don’t get so stubborn and persistent at chasing this world, for they are like the wind. You will never catch it, and it will never reward you for your own good.
“Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 2:11.
What other dangers are there in being stubborn? When you are stubborn in heart, you will be stuck in your own ways rather than God’s ways. It also hardens the heart to be resistant to change and unwilling to submit to another’s way. A student is to be open-minded, listening, and considering things for the purpose of growth. How can that student grow if they are stuck in their own ways, thinking they know it all? They can’t. God desires you to grow, and part of growing is changing things you don’t want to change. Not only is stubbornness a hindrance to your journey with God, but it is also a form of idolatry.
“So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.” – 1 Samuel 15:23.
The context behind this is when Saul disobeyed the Lord’s command and sacrificed instead out of fear and compulsion. How is stubbornness as idolatry? Idolatry is all about itself and being put higher than God. When you are being stubborn to God, you are putting your ways higher than His; thus, making your own ways and stubbornness an idol. It is very clear throughout the Word that choosing an idol over God doesn’t bode well. However, what if we were stubborn against this world rather than God? What if we were stubborn for God rather than ourselves? This is where the only implication of stubbornness is viable. Secondly, this wouldn’t be stubbornness but a persistence and standing firm for God. We need to be unwilling to change and separate from God’s ways and desires. The world will try to convince and deceive you into changing, but be stubborn and stand firm for God choosing His ways as your own ways. So overall, don’t give in to the stubbornness of this world, but be persistent and focused on God’s ways. Be open-minded to God and remain teachable, but don’t ever let others change your core values that are rooted in Christ. Know what you believe and why you believe it.