Monkeys are wily little critters. They would be impossible to chase. They are just too fast and agile. They aren’t impossible to catch though – it’s actually quite easy.
The basic technique is this:
Hollow out a coconut and place within it a cup of rice, some peanuts, or even a stone. Tie the coconut to a tree and wait. The monkey, seeking a treat or sometimes out of mere curiosity, will reach through the hole in the coconut to grasp his prize. He feels pretty pleased with himself now that he has this treasure in his hand. The only problem is that his fist wont come out of the coconut until he releases whatever he is holding. The monkey will sit there and continue to tug at the coconut, but doesn’t even consider that letting go would make his hand come out as easily as it went in. So, rather than chasing monkeys around the jungle, the natives merely stroll out to the places they have anchored the coconuts and collect the monkeys.
Are we that much more clever? How often do we pray for God to free us of some thing that we continue to cling to? We claim we want to be rid of it, but our white knuckles betray us. All too often, our problems are not things we need God to take away. Neither are they things that the devil is tormenting us with. They are simply things that we monkey-minded humans reach for out of curiosity, then hold to with all our might, while the devil sits back and laughs. I can picture God looking at us and shaking his head – “Let go! Just let go and walk away! You aren’t trapped you knucklehead!”
Sure, we can and should pray to God for help. But next time you’re asking God to free you from some horrible trap, look around and see if there isn’t something you’re holding onto that is causing the whole problem.
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