Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Faithfulness v. Stubbornness

The most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one impulse of your own nature and set it up as the thing you ought to follow at all costs.  There is not one of them which will not make us into devils if we set it up as an absolute guide.
- C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity

I've never really thought about the difference between the two: faithfulness and stubbornness.  One has a positive connotation, one a negative.  Often, I've interchanged the words, but the passage in Lewis's book has made me think twice.

Faithfulness says "I'm going to do this because it is right and I want to live a righteous life."  Stubbornness says "I'm going to do this because it is right and I am required to do what is right."  Both can do the "right" thing, but only faithfulness will do it with the right attitude.  

Faithfulness produces growth.  Stubbornness produces despair. Faithfulness will bless you when you have achieved your goal.  Stubbornness will deflate you.

Faithfulness causes us to let go of the goals and dreams we have so we can go in new directions.  Stubbornness keeps us on one path until we reach that goal, but allows no room for mistake or outside influence.  We will probably end up in the same place, but getting there stubbornly can be very painful.  Getting there faithfully will bring lots of joy to us and to those around us along the way.  

Most of all, faithfulness denotes a trust in God for our strength.  Stubbornness relies solely on ourselves.  What things in your life can you stop being stubborn about, and start being faithful about?


Just for smiles... :)


1 comment:

  1. What a blessing to be reminded of this my friend. So true, so true. Thank you!

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