MONKEY BUSINESS
Imagine finding a phone you believed was lost, only to discover a video, as well as a number of “selfies” snapped by a monkey! On September 16, a Malaysian college student encountered that very situation. Twenty-year-old Zackrydz Rodzy searched in vain for two days for the phone. Finally, he heard it ringing in his yard. Rodzy laughingly noted that the mischievous Macaque should create his own Instagram account, since the camera abounds with humorous selfies, slow-motion videos, time-lapses and portraits. “I was shocked. The suspect’s face was plastered on the screen. It was hilarious,” he said.
I’m not sure how much our simian friend understood about his actions. Perhaps his deeds were completely random, but it’s possible he was imitating the behavior of humans around him. “Monkey see; monkey do” is more than a trivial maxim.
Regardless, the primate’s behavior points toward a trend in our culture — obsession with self. Selfies can be great, but what does the very term imply? Philippians 2:3-4 commands us, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” (NLT) Hmmm, that’s about as easy as wrestling a phone from a monkey!
Want to be free? Truly free? Look to the example of the most unselfish servant ever to walk planet earth — Jesus. Shortly before He died, the Son of God washed His followers’ stinking feet, for goodness sake! Putting others first lifts our heads above the muck and mire of self-obsession and propels us toward Christ-like concern for others.
Our preoccupation with self generates a downward spiral of insecurity and anxiety. The more self-absorbed we become, the harder we must labor to maintain our image. “Will I get as many likes on this post as my last one?” Or, “How come she got more ’kissy lips’ on her picture than I did?” During these times where many of us are stuck at home or “singing the blues” in a myriad of manners, isn’t it worth pursuing a path of unselfish service? We’ll discover joy like we’ve never known.
Maybe it’s time we considered others’ needs above our own. Maybe it’s time we helped someone else before we “take care of number one.” Maybe it’s time we simply think first of others. Otherwise, we’re just “monkeying around.”
Principle: Our culture is spiraling downward into self-obsession.
Promise: Serving others brings us joy like we’ve never known.
Ponder:
In which of my relationships do I need to improve my service?
What specific steps can I take to serve them better?
Prayer: Jesus thank you for showing us how to serve. Would you enable me through your power to serve others as you did?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Philippians 2:1-11.
Perceptions: Record any ideas God puts on your heart from today’s devotional.