When can stubbornness be mistaken for perseverance? What is the difference between these two qualities?

“Perseverance” is a quality we praise and value a lot, and it is one that is desperately lacking in the men of our day. This site is called “persevero,” which predictably enough is the Latin word for perseverance. The Bible talks extensively about perseverance. In Matthew 7:7-12 and Luke 18:1-8, Jesus spoke about perseverance in prayer. In II Thessalonians 2:15, Christians are exhorted to persevere in the “traditions” they had been taught by the apostles. In Galatians 5:1, Christians are called to persevere in faith, and not be turned to a works-based, false gospel.

The operative term in the King James Version of the Bible for “perseverance” is the phrase “stand fast.” God promises that He will stand fast to His covenant in Psalm 89:28. As we are called to follow the Lord, we must stand fast. Repeatedly in Scripture, God’s people receive the charge to stand fast, the most well known probably appearing in I Corinthian 16:13.

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith; acquit yourselves like men; be strong” I Corinthians 16:13.

The critical thing about all of these passages is the modifying phrase “in the faith” (or similar phrases). By saying “stand fast in the faith,” God makes it clear that He is not merely interested in us being persistent. He calls us to be persistent in the faith.

Here’s the difference. Remember the story of Balaam?

Balaam and Stubborness

Numbers 22 tells us how the King of Moab plotted against Israel when the Hebrews were still traveling from Eqypt in the wilderness. He called Balaam to curse the Israelites so that they would not destroy Moab. For whatever reason, God spoke to Balaam in a dream and forbade him from cursing Israel. At first Balaam heeded God’s warning, but a few days later he had saddled his donkey to follow the Moabites to the King.

God sent an angel to block the path of Balaam. Balaam’s donkey saw the angel, but Balaam did not, and the donkey refused to proceed on the path. After beating the donkey repeatedly, until God allowed the donkey to speak to Balaam and tell him about the angel. Even after that incredible experience, the King of Moab had Balaam make three attempts to persuade God to curse Israel and each one of them failed.

The persistence of Balaam and the King of Moab was not a godly persistence. They did not act in faith. Their persistence served their own selfish desires in rebellion against God. Rather than acknowledging God’s sovereignty over them, they stubbornly tried to advance their own agenda and failed.

The operative phrase for stubbornness is acting “stiff-necked.” All throughout the Scriptures, God reprimands those who act with a stiff neck and calls for their repentance. (See, for example, Deuteronomy 31:27; Proverbs 29:1; and Jeremiah 17:23.)

Every example in the Bible of stubbornness, whether demonstrated in the lives of the redeemed or the wicked, led to painfulness consequences. Moses’ stubbornness meant that he could not enter the Promised Land. Saul’s stubbornness meant the loss of his kingdom and ultimately his life. Jonah’s stubbornness meant that he would face death in the belly of a whale.

Personal Application

In my own life, I have often tried to discern between when my own persistence in an effort could be based on admirable perseverance or rebellious stubbornness. It’s tricky, because like Moses and the striking of the rock, we often stubbornly attempt to accomplish God’s ends by our means. When we find ourselves in this position, it is tempting to justify the stubbornness because of our honorable goals.

Living in light of God’s sovereignty entails acknowledging His authority and power over the ends as well as the means. When He puts an obstacle in our path, it can often be a warning like the angel in Balaam’s story to stop persisting in our own course.

May the Lord God give us wisdom to discern between Christ-like, obedient perseverance and rebellious stubbornness, and then the grace to persevere in faith.