Craig Clouston

 

Pigheaded

December 10

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.”