Let Go Monkey!

Recently at women's bible study one of the ladies shared the process of how they catch monkeys. It seems that the poachers will create a little box that has a tiny hole the perfect size for the monkey's hand. Inside the box will be a yummy treat for the monkey.

When the monkey reaches in and grabs the treat his "closed" fist is now too big to fit back through the hole. The monkey never thinks to "Let Go" of his treat and therefore gets captured.

It quickly became a joke for the group but we were not oblivious to the example it presented to us as Christians.

How many times in our life do we "reach" for something that is not good for us...not God's will in our life and when God's say "let go" we don't want to?

Sometimes I think we are a lot like this monkey...we only see our treat...we see what is yummy and our short sightedness "captures" us. We have the tendency as human beings to only see what is directly in front of us...especially if it is something that we desire.

Satan consistently tempts us with the Lust of the Flesh and the Lust of the Eyes. It is not a new trick. He used the same technique on Eve in the garden.

Genesis 3:6 (NLT)
The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her.



Granted he doesn't always tempt us with something obvious but the temptations are there none the less. What exactly is temptation? A Wordnet search defines temptation as:

• something that seduces or has the quality to seduce


• the desire to have or do something that you know you should avoid; "he felt the temptation and his will power weakened"


• enticement: the act of influencing by exciting hope or desire; "his enticements were shameless"

Temptation isn't always something detrimental like addictions or indiscretions. If you are like me you think of a temptation as something so sinister it shouldn't be spoken of during the day.

But reality is there are tempations all around us. Anything that has the power to keep our eyes off the Lord or our hearts away from the Lord is a temptation. We can not allow ourselves to be like Peter and take our eyes off the Lord or His will, guidance and direction in our life.

Matthew 14:29b-31 (NIV)
... Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

It was exactly when Peter took his eyes OFF the Lord that He began to sink. Not the moment before when his eyes were firmly affixed on Jesus. In God's graciousness it tells us that immediately Jesus reached out to Peter and saved him.

New shoes, a new car, the latest and greatest fashion accessory or tech toy....even the amazing sales at Gymboree complete with Gymbucks can be a temptation which would and could take our eyes off the Lord.

Do you think about it? Do you obsess over it? Do you wake up wondering what is going on with "that" world or with "that" item. Then, my friends, that is a temptation. Temptations are not always of the caliber of looking for your next hit or flirting too hard with the box girl/boy.

Satan doesn't generally work in huge, firework displays of temptation...at least not a first. His method of operation is generally very subtle, very sly and very simple...it is the end outcome that is usally a big fireworks display...because that is when we realize how far away from God we have moved. That is when our eyes are opened when we are captured.

John 8:44
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Jesus understands our temptation and through it all He has provided a way for us to be strong. His Spirit lives freely within us and it is in that power that we must meet the temptations in our life.

Ephesians 6:16-18
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Stay alert my friends for our enemy is out there and he is constantly looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). We do not want to be like the Monkey and be captured within our own lust, greed and shortsightedness. So let go monkey, let go!