Neal Pollard
As I write this, the government shutdown is in day 33. This is two days short of the longest shutdown that spanned from December 2018 into late January, 2019. Both Republicans and Democrats refuse to surrender their positions, each blaming the other and trying to gain the sympathy of the general public. Meanwhile, those who depend on SNAP, WIC, and other such services face disruption. Millions of federal workers, including the military, TSA, border patrol agents, federal firefighters, and more, are working without pay. The strain and stress on them is understandably high.
Regardless of whose, if anyone’s, side you take, you appreciate the frustrating side-effects of an unwillingness to yield and compromise. From the outside looking in, you may think how easily this could be resolved if each side would concede. Each believes they will be showing weakness and losing if they give in.
In my life, regarding non-political situations, I have seen people in positions of leadership and influence publicly say in humility, “I was wrong” or “I am sorry.” Never once did I hear anyone lose respect for them. In fact, the opposite occurred. Their stock, in every instance, went up in people’s eyes. We love to witness is, but we hate to exhibit it. A humble, heartfelt apology or concession can lead to peace, harmony, and unity.
An inspired apostle wrote, “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3). If that spirit was embraced by all, we would never have stalemates and impasses like we are witnessing now. And while we cannot affect what’s currently happening in Washington, D.C. right now, think of the many areas where we can avoid costly episodes of stubbornness.
What about in your marriage? Do you ever experience relationship shutdowns there? What about in your local congregation? Fellowship shutdowns? In just about any instance where you are called to interrelate with people, on the job, with family, or even in casual daily transactions, you are at least partially responsible for whether or not costly shutdowns occur.
I wonder how many souls will be lost because of the cost of stubbornness, whether a pride that refuses to repent or obey the gospel or that will not make amends. Look up passages that describe people as “stiff-necked” or those who had “stubborn and rebellious hearts” and see how God felt about it. Suffice it to say, the cost will exceed the approximately $7 billion being conservatively estimated in the current senate stalemate. How many souls will someday be lost due to the high cost of stubbornness?
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