Don't Be Like The Baboon
Don’t Be Like the Baboon
There are two interesting stories that concern the behavior of baboons, and each
contains a practical lesson for us humans.
Baboons love salt. This led people to invent a clever way to trap them. Some salt
is placed inside a hole with an opening barely large enough for a baboon’s hand to
squeeze through. When a baboon gets his fist full of salt he cannot retrieve it
through the opening. He will then stubbornly refuse to release his “treasure”
until he is captured.
The other story comes from a man who preached in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)
years ago. He said he once watched a baboon working his way down a row of
maize (corn). He would grab an ear and tuck it under his arm, then grab another
and put it under the same arm. Of course, when he raised his arm to put the
second ear safely under, the first ear dropped out. Reaching the end of the row
the baboon sat down puzzled, searching under his arm for the missing maize.
Do we ever behave like those foolish baboons?
Do we ever refuse to turn loose of something that will ultimately bring us harm?
Are we dissatisfied with what we have and constantly driven to get more?
In our quest for material things do we ever forget Jesus’ words, “What profit is it
to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” - Matt 16:26
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Real Loyalty
One of the all-time greats in baseball was Babe Ruth. His record of 714 home
runs remained unbroken until Hank Aaron came along. Throughout his career
he was “worshipped” by sports fans, but in time his age began to take its toll, and
his popularity began to wane. After striking out in one of his last games he
walked dejectedly toward the dugout. Before he could get there people in the
stands began to shower him with boos. Some even shook their fists in anger.
Then a wonderful thing happened. A little boy jumped over the railing and ran to
“the Babe” with tears streaming down his cheeks. He flung his arms around his
hero’s legs and held on tightly. Ruth scooped him up, hugged him, and set him
down. He then took the boy’s hand and they walked off the field together.
That was real loyalty! It did not matter what the howling crowd thought, this
young boy loved his idol, and he wanted him and everyone in the stadium to
know it.
What about our loyalty to the Lord? Do we sing: “I’m not ashamed to own my
Lord nor to defend His cause” and then remain silent when He or his cause are
being attacked or ridiculed?
It’s easy to stand up for truth when we’re among our brethren, but the next time
you find yourself among those who mock your Lord and Savior will you
shamelessly take His hand and walk by His side?
“Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I also
confess before my Father which is in heaven. But
whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny
before my Father which is in heaven.” - Matt 10:32-33
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“High-born” vs. “Low-born”
Abraham Lincoln is quoted as having said, “God must have loved the common
people, He made so many of them.” We are all familiar with the fact that in our
society there are those who are considered (and often consider themselves) to be
the “upper class.”
In 1Cor 1:26 Paul calls the attention of the Corinthians to a fact which they could
easily observe: “Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after
the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” The word “noble” could
also be translated “well-born” or “high-born.” It refers to nobility of birth, not to
nobility of character. It is the opposite of the word Paul uses in verse 28, where
he says that God has chosen “base” (“low-born”) things to bring to naught things
that are honored by men.
The point of all of this is that the simple gospel does not generally appeal to those
who are wise, mighty, or noble by the standards of the world. There may be a
number of things that contribute to that, but pride is certainly one of them. When
a person has an inflated opinion of his or her own worth, importance, ability, or
nobility, that is a great impediment to humble subservience to the Lord.
- Leonard White
God will accept the one who begins to serve Him
late in life, but not the one who quits early.
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Change is inevitable - growth is optional.
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