STRESS (See WORRY)
STUBBORNNESS
Stubbornness is not a blessing in the Bible but a sin. King Saul was told, “Stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (1 Samuel 15:23). Some people actually pride themselves on being stubborn or blame it on their astrological sign (see ASTROLOGY), but God says it is sin (“iniquity and idolatry”). As much as one may want to hold onto a belief or, because of his pride, cannot admit his error, still he will end up hurting himself. If we see in the Bible we are wrong about something, then we need to change our beliefs, practice, or way of life to please God. King Saul thought God would look the other way even though he and the people of Israel were not listening because he believed God would be satisfied with a sacrifice he was going to give. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:22–23). There will always be excuses for why we will not obey the Bible, but it is rebellion, and to persist in disobedience is stubbornness. And all of us, whether husband, wife, young person, or child, are not immune to it; wherefore “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).
STUDY
Christians are not only to read the Bible (1 Timothy 4:13; John 8:31–32) but to study it. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things” (Proverbs 15:28). The following Bible study tools will be helpful:
Strong’s Concordance gives the meaning of the words in the original language and can be found at,
http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html.
Classic Bible commentaries, all in the public domain, are helpful and can be found at,
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/.
STUBBORNNESS
Stubbornness is not a blessing in the Bible but a sin. King Saul was told, “Stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (1 Samuel 15:23). Some people actually pride themselves on being stubborn or blame it on their astrological sign (see ASTROLOGY), but God says it is sin (“iniquity and idolatry”). As much as one may want to hold onto a belief or, because of his pride, cannot admit his error, still he will end up hurting himself. If we see in the Bible we are wrong about something, then we need to change our beliefs, practice, or way of life to please God. King Saul thought God would look the other way even though he and the people of Israel were not listening because he believed God would be satisfied with a sacrifice he was going to give. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:22–23). There will always be excuses for why we will not obey the Bible, but it is rebellion, and to persist in disobedience is stubbornness. And all of us, whether husband, wife, young person, or child, are not immune to it; wherefore “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).
STUDY
Christians are not only to read the Bible (1 Timothy 4:13; John 8:31–32) but to study it. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things” (Proverbs 15:28). The following Bible study tools will be helpful:
Strong’s Concordance gives the meaning of the words in the original language and can be found at,
http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html.
Classic Bible commentaries, all in the public domain, are helpful and can be found at,
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/.
