Pigheaded
But my people would not listen to me…So
I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own
devices.
Psalm 81:11-12
Karen was conducting research on the
stubborn nature of chimpanzees. She had chosen a three-year-old male
named, Bart, for this test. She watched as Bart reached through the
cage to retrieve a banana she’d placed just outside the enclosure.
With a firm grip he tried to pull it between the bars but couldn’t
because they were too close together to permit passage of the chimp’s
clenched fist.
Karen tried to get Bart’s attention
so she could demonstrate a way to retrieve the banana but he was so
engrossed that he refused to pay attention.
She watched as the chimp tried again
and again to retrieve the banana, twisting his hand one way and then
another, but refusing to let go. He reached through the bars,
shifting the banana to his other hand hoping that would work, but it
ended with the same results. She knew that Bart wouldn't succeed
unless he overcame his stubborn ‘one way’ approach.
Frustrated with his inability to
overcome this challenge Bart launched into a frenzy jumping up and
down while jerking his hand against the bars, all the time refusing
to let go of the banana.
“Pigheaded monkey. If you’d only
listen,” Karen said as she recorded Bart’s actions.
†
Sounds irrational, right? But the truth
is we are a lot like the chimp; stubborn. We prefer to complete tasks
a specific way…our way. This close-minded approach to
problem solving creates more issues than it resolves.
Attempting to tackle problems on our
own when there is competent help being offered is just plain
obstinate. By refusing to accept assistance we've already begun the
process of failing, especially where spiritual matters are concerned.
Obstinacy is a form of pride. And when
we cling to our pride, refusing to acknowledge the truth, God will
eventually stop trying to alter our course, allowing us to reap the
consequences.
At what cost do we continue to embrace
our pigheadedness? The choice is ours. Will we listen?
Prayer
“Lord, help me lay down
my pigheaded pride and become willing to not only accept the help of
others, but to seek it before things get complicated. In Jesus’
Name, amen.”
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