Being stubborn is not usually looked at as being a positive trait. The idea that no matter what you say or do you just cannot get that stubborn person to be open minded, to think outside of their own sphere of influence. Husbands all over the world can attest to how frustrating it is to have a stubborn wife. Thankfully, I do not know that feeling. You try to reason with them, show them a better way or at least a different way, and they will not have any part of it. For example, it is normal to put ritz crackers in your chili, but it is also better than just plain saltines. But a stubborn wife may not agree. By the way that was just a random example.
For the follower of Jesus Christ though it is a great trait to be stubborn. We must stand firm on what God’s word says and dig in on the truth that there is no room for compromise. Paul says it better than I can in I Corinthians 16:13-14, “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” Now that is a great challenge. We have to be on alert because the enemy is roaming around seeking whomever he can devour. The devil has been around for a long time. He is really good at separating Christians from other believers, getting them to doubt, and get angry and then he has them.
Then Paul tells us to stand firm in the faith, get stubborn. There is no room for compromise in our walk. Family, there must be a line drawn in the sand that we will not cross. We must know what we need to be stubborn about and what is okay to just let go. It is okay to put ritz crackers in the chili. It is not okay to dilute the Word of God.
Be courageous. This does not mean we are not going to have times of nervousness and fear. Courage is moving forward despite the fear and concern. It is believing the Lord, not our circumstances. So be courageous. Be strong. We get strong by working through struggles. The struggles of life should not stop us, in fact they are given to make us stronger. Do not be afraid of the struggle, embrace it, learn from it, desire to know what the Father is wanting us to receive from it.
We so often forget that this life of being a Jesus follower is a war. The battle is real and there is always the enemy that wants to keep us from being faithful. Lastly, do everything with the heart of love. That is the key that makes all these other traits possible. Love separates us from the rest of the world. Oh, sure society will say they love and tolerate, but true love is always willing to do what is hard for the sake of the other person. We do the hard thing, we say the tough thing because of love. Well, at least that ought to be our motive. The love we have for each other, the love we have for our lost neighbor should drive us into being stubborn. Let us then be stubborn for the sake of the Lord and His gospel.