Every choice has a consequence.  When we talk about consequences we most often think of the negative consequences.  But there are positive consequences to positive choices.  For instance, if I choose to drive the speed limit the positive consequence is that I will never get stopped for going over the speed limit.  If I choose not to eat that last piece of double-chocolate fudge nine layer cake, I won’t see its effect on my body in the morning, nor will I have any guilt feelings if I have chosen to stay away from sweets.

Stubbornness emerges in one’s life when we veer off the path that we know to be true and right.  It surfaces when we know the right thing to do but our pride won’t allow us to admit our mistake and we continue to hold onto the thought or action that ultimately causes destruction in our lives.

Solomon in the previous jlog had a fetish for women.  Lots of them.  All kinds and different backgrounds.  All these women had different faiths and worshipped different kinds of gods.  The God of Israel said to Solomon not to marry foreign women because they would turn his heart away from worshipping Himself.  “King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.  As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.  Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom.  And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah. . . .Also, Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against the king. He was one of Solomon’s officials, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, and his mother was a widow named Zeruah.”  1 Kings‬ ‭11:1-2, 4, 14, 23, 26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This passage shows the effects of stubbornness in the life of Solomon.  Up until this time, Solomon had peace all around and there were no wars.  His stubbornness lead to three individuals rebelling against Solomon and the Israelites.  Hadad.  Rezon.  Jeroboam.  Solomon’s eyes were so focused on the love of his 1000 women that he got blinded and didn’t see where the enemy were surfacing.  As you read on in the story, it was Jeroboam who finally pulled 10 of the tribes of Israel into rebellion and split the country in two.

Stubbornness when not dealt with can have devastating effects on the stubborn person as well as people around.  On this journey it is important to be mindful of things and/or people we are too tightly gripping onto.  God can only work in our lives when we let go of  the reigns.