Stiffnecked

12/16/13...Stiffnecked. The word keeps creeping into my thoughts. This word was used by God and through God by the prophets in the Old Testament. The general meaning most people associate with stiffnecked is stubborn. But I am curious to go a little deeper. I look up the word in the iPhone app, dictionary.com. I start to piece together threads of a larger picture. One definition leads to another and then another. Below are some key words and their linked definitions I pieced together.

 

Stiffnecked - haughty and obstinate; refractory

 

Haughty - scornfully arrogant

 

Obstinate - not easily overcome

 

Refractory - stubbornly disobedient; hard to deal with; hard to please or satisfy

 

I think the last phrase sums it up for me; hard to please or satisfy. When I think of what I've read in the Old Testament, this is what comes to mind. Over and over again the Israelites rejoice, but then soon forget and start complaining again. This is a reoccurring pattern from the time they exit Egypt until the demise of their nation. I have read through the Old Testament three times and I realize the story never gets better. I wonder why God created us when he knew the deficiencies in our free will. Maybe this is what happened to satan. Was the arch angel not satisfied or stiffnecked which led to his fall? Maybe he wanted more. Was the arch angel created with free will and God knew this would happen? I do not know, but I wonder.

 

Maybe part of the purpose in our journey on earth is God testing us to understand who will embrace Him and not turn from Him. I am sure He does not want more satans. Throughout the Bible, God directly or through others promises trials, tribulations and tests of our faith. Is he testing me to understand if I can find satisfaction in Him or will I turn from Him to seek what I want?

 

How does this relate to the Toil? Well, over the last six months or so I am getting worn down by all the complaining from a select group of people at our plant. I am finding it hard to please or satisfy the complaining. It seems no matter the good intentions of leadership, it is never enough. Once certain levels of needs, either realized or unrealized are met, forgetfulness creeps in, and a whole new level of unrealized or realized expectations crops up. Seemingly what the leadership group does is never enough. We are unable to satisfy. This is where I have talked about the spiritual component missing in teaming. In Eastern culture, I have read work and personal life are integrated. If so, this may somewhat explain the dilemma. In Western culture, typically work and personal life are kept separate. I know this holds true for me. Any relationships I develop at work typically do not carry over when I go to work for another company. The compartmentalizing means work relationships may only be superficial at best.

 

Back to my dilemma at work. In writing about this dilemma I am experiencing, I must admit my natural inclination is to retreat, but this only makes matters worse. I must one, accept I am in the same boat. I am just as stiffnecked as those I am writing about. I must realize patience. I must seek out God in relationship with zeal to continually overcome my stiffneckedness. My only hope is in the fruit of the Spirit. By engaging in relationship and letting the fruit of the Spirit overcome me, maybe I have a chance. No longer will I have to depend on my own power in overcoming complaining, because my satisfaction is no longer rooted in those who are complaining. My eyes are on the things above.

 

Yea, seeking my satisfaction in this world will lead to disappointment. As a result, I will complain. Seeking my satisfaction in God rises me above worldly disappointment. Is this what the Israelites failed to understand? Is this what I am failing to understand?