The Second Most Important Thing
The first is love. The second? Steadfastness, which is also referred to as endurance or perseverance. It is the ability to stand firm in the face of adversity or testing. Steadfastness is so important that many writers of the New Testament, including Luke, Peter, Paul (who mentions it in several of his letters), the writer of Hebrews, and James the brother of Jesus, discuss the weight and significance of the trait. But before explaining what steadfastness is, let’s make sure we know what it is not.
Steadfastness is not patience. Patience, also known as longsuffering, is usually associated with waiting for something to happen—for example, waiting for God to act (especially in the Old Testament) or Christ to return (especially in the New Testament). James refers to patience when he talks about farmers waiting for the rain. He also mentions the patience of the prophets who were waiting for people to repent. Patience, therefore, is not steadfastness.
Steadfastness is also not stubbornness. Some people might think that being fixed in one’s beliefs could be steadfastness, but it is probably closer to stubbornness! Someone is stubborn when he refuses to move on an issue. We may think that person is standing his ground, which sounds like being steadfast, but really the person is being more obstinate than anything else. Obstinacy and stubbornness are not admirable traits at all. Stubbornness is not steadfastness.
The Greek word for steadfastness is hypomone and it means to possess energetic resistance while under pressure and endurance in the face of trials. It is standing firm. Energetic resistance is being able to say, “Bring it on!” But it is not a proud trait. It is a meek one. Steadfastness is only needed when we are under pressure. Pressure can occur in any circumstance—whether it is a physical challenge or a relational one, a work-related issue, or a deeply spiritual one that only involves our heart and mind. We are called on to be steadfast in many ways and our response is the key to whether we move forward or backward in our faith. Being steadfast is resisting with energy whatever force is tempting us to move. (Ironically, when we stand firm, we are actually moving forward!)
How do we hold fast, then? By recalling all the benefits of remaining steadfastness. It acts as an anchor (Hebrews 6:19), keeps our sights on our hope in Christ (Hebrews 6:18), gives purpose to our work (Acts 11:23; 1 Corinthians 15:58), saves us from shifting from the gospel (Colossians 1:23), and helps to become spiritually mature. (James 1:4) As Timothy struggled to lead a wandering congregation, Paul’s advice to his young protégé was to “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.”1 My advice is to memorize some (or all) of these passages so they will fill your head with God’s truth and strengthen your resolve during the trial/test/battle!
James is so bold as to say that when we are steadfast, we are “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”2 For what else do we need if we can face any trial with energetic resistance? It is an amazing tool to have in our arsenal. If we can master steadfastness, we can face anything with boldness. Certainly, the most important thing to cultivate in our lives is love. But the second is surely steadfastness. James proclaims, “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast.”3 Perhaps one day some would look at the way we go through trials and consider us as those “who remained steadfast.”
11 Timothy 6:11 2James 1:4 3James 5:11
Liked this… that is what i want to strive for
Ann