I
saw a special on television once about the Celebes Islands, which described some
Malay children who caught baby monkeys and sold them to tourists. They had a
most clever way of catching these little monkeys. There is a gourd that grows in
the islands that looks like an overgrown string bean. They tape one end so that
it can't grow, while the other end enlarges. Then they cut off the little end
and hollow the gourd, so that it looks like a narrow-necked vase. They put a few
grains of rice in the bottom of the gourd, and hang it up in a tree. The monkeys
stick their paws in the gourd and pick up the rice, but as long as they hold the
rice they can't get their fist out. It's like a cork in reverse, But they won't
let go of the rice. They become prisoners of their own greed. At any time they
could let go and be free, but they won't let go. What a marvelous illustration
of life before Christ! We all have our fist in the jug, and we won't let go. But
then we come to Jesus Christ and he sets us free, because he teaches us that
true life consists of giving up, of yielding up our rights, everything we are
and have. - David Roper
I
saw a special on television once about the Celebes Islands, which described some
Malay children who caught baby monkeys and sold them to tourists. They had a
most clever way of catching these little monkeys. There is a gourd that grows in
the islands that looks like an overgrown string bean. They tape one end so that
it can't grow, while the other end enlarges. Then they cut off the little end
and hollow the gourd, so that it looks like a narrow-necked vase. They put a few
grains of rice in the bottom of the gourd, and hang it up in a tree. The monkeys
stick their paws in the gourd and pick up the rice, but as long as they hold the
rice they can't get their fist out. It's like a cork in reverse, But they won't
let go of the rice. They become prisoners of their own greed. At any time they
could let go and be free, but they won't let go. What a marvelous illustration
of life before Christ! We all have our fist in the jug, and we won't let go. But
then we come to Jesus Christ and he sets us free, because he teaches us that
true life consists of giving up, of yielding up our rights, everything we are
and have. - David Roper