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Rom. 2:5. What lies at the root of this stubbornness and unrepentance? I see some clues in the context as well as its counterpart described in verse 7. It is important for me to find out because this chapter too aptly describes my condition. So if I want to get out of this position I need to understand what it is I am trying to escape and what the true and healthy condition looks like. I am looking at the surrounding verses to see what is being resisted, which is really what stubbornness is composed of. I see resistance in thinking lightly of “the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience.”
I see a real problem in “not knowing the kindness of God.” Not knowing this – really knowing and believing it – prevents me from laying down my resistance to Him and enjoying repentance.
I may be stubborn in resisting what Paul has pointed out about having the same problems that I condemn or criticize others for. Or if I grudgingly admit them, I may think that God will overlook it in me while wanting Him to “judge” them (v. 1-3).
I may be stubborn in ways that are similar to the root causes of the problems described in chapter 1 but with different visible fruit than what is described there. I certainly often discover selfish ambition that creeps into much of what I do. I am embarrassed to detect it, even sometimes in my desire to share my thoughts and feelings in this format. It may not be my dominant motive, but my motives for so many things are so often mixed with at least a little bit of selfishness. And to refuse to acknowledge that, at least to myself and to God, is to remain in stubbornness.
Stubbornness may show up if I insist on believing lies about God after I have seen His beauty and the truth about Him. This shows up in verse 8 where “wrath and indignation” are often characteristics attributed to God and by extension exhibited in me. But this produces instability in my life according to James 1:8. I cannot believe opposite things about God at the same time and expect to live a life of faith.
A spirit of stubbornness is revealed when sometimes I do not listen to my conscience even though I claim to be a Christ-follower. I am then exposed as a fraud by “unbelievers” who are more conscientious than I am and display a better spirit, but I remain stubborn in self-defensiveness and pride.
I can entertain stubbornness by not living from my heart while relying on my outward performance, my knowledge of religion and boasting in my connection to God and His people (v.17). My confidence in my ability to be a guide to others, a light to the darkened, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature and in having a knowledge of the truth can be tainted with stubbornness (v. 19,20). Those things are not necessarily bad – they are in fact very important.
But they do not preclude the liability of hidden pride and stubbornness preventing me from entering into the intimacy and joy of a resistance-free, open-hearted relationship with God.
What is stubbornness a counterfeit of? I believe it may be found in verse 7 – perseverance. Perseverance for the right things is a very essential ingredient for any healthy relationship. Perseverance pushes past resistance, fear, misunderstandings and even pain. Perseverance is one of the driving forces of true love. (Maybe stubbornness is perseverance stripped of real love for others and replaced with selfishness.)
Verse 7 reveals what needs to be pursued with perseverance: glory, honor and immortality. Verse 10 shows the results of this pursuit; they will experience glory, honor and peace. I want that in my experience.
God, replace my stubbornness with joyful perseverance today. Make these thoughts not just nice-sounding words of advice but cause my heart to absorb them, experience them and reflect them in my attitudes and responses today. I do not want to store up wrath for myself by my stubbornness, but I choose to pursue real glory, real honor and seek You – the only One who is immortal. Fill me with Your presence and Your peace today and make my life a blessing to others and an honor for Your reputation. Continue Your experiment of grace in my life today.
