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Obstinacy—Barrier to All Improvement, December 8
I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy
brow brass.
Isaiah 48:4
.
Obstinacy is a bad trait of character, and if not overcome, is the means
of doing a great deal of harm. He who is obstinate will not yield whatever
sentiments he may entertain. Narrowness of mind is the cause of obstinacy.
There are men of intellectual capacity who have allowed obstinacy to develop
in their character, and they refuse to believe things that are right, because they
themselves did not originate them.
Obstinacy is a barrier to all improvement. An obstinate man will not
be readily convinced of anything which his sight cannot take in. He does
not know what it means to walk by faith. He adheres to his own plans
and opinions, be they right or wrong, because he has already adopted this
line of thought. He may have abundant reason to see that he is wrong; his
brethren may raise their voices against his opinions and his methods for
making a success of the work, but he cherishes an almost immovable bar
against conviction.... He will suggest sentiments that are unsanctioned by the
experience or judgment of men who are fully as intelligent and as wise as
he is. He will make assertions as though he had all the aftersight, and will
uphold his ideas as all sufficient. Self has for so long been the ruling element,
that the unfortunate man considers it a virtue to have, as he thinks, a mind of
his own. If his way is not followed, he will raise objections on every occasion,
in small matters and in large. He will hold to his words, whether they are true,
or entirely false. This practice, often repeated, grows into confirmed habit,
and becomes character....
By two or three who have made criticism their science, who take a position
in opposition to nearly everything, the very best business may be dragged
down to a low level. They can plant more seeds of doubt than they would
wish to see ripen into harvest....
The Lord is not pleased to have this spirit hindering and marring His work.
He calls for men who will carry out His will, men who will be controlled by
His Holy Spirit.—
Manuscript 159, December 8, 1898
, “Speak Evil of No
Man.”
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