Bible Reading: Luke 12:16-21, 31

"Hey, you want a monkey for a pet?" asked Anthony's friend Obi one day.

"Sure, but how would I catch one?" asked Anthony. He and his parents had recently arrived in Africa as missionaries.

"It's easy. You trap him," said Obi, handing Anthony a gourd. "First, make a hole in this gourd--make it just big enough for a monkey to put his paw through." He supervised while Anthony worked. "Okay," Obi said, "that's big enough. The gourd is hollow, so now we'll put some fruit in it. Then we'll fasten it to the branch of a tree at the edge of the village."

"I don't get it," said Anthony. "How will this work? Even if a monkey reaches into the gourd to get the fruit, what will keep him from getting away with it? Doesn't the trap have to slam shut or something?"

Obi shook his head. "When the monkey has the fruit in his fist, his paw won't go through the hole. If he'd just let it go, he could get away, but they usually don't do that. I guess they want the fruit so bad they hang on even though it means they get caught."

Soon the trap was ready. The boys walked to the tree Obi had selected and attached the gourd to a branch. "There. By tomorrow morning, you'll probably have a monkey," said Obi.

Back home, Anthony told his mother how the monkeys foolishly held on to the fruit instead of letting it go and getting away. Mom laughed. "Do you know I used to be just as foolish myself?"

"You were?" Anthony was surprised.

"I wanted certain things," Mom explained. "A nice home, pretty clothes, a nice car, a grassy lawn. I wanted to hang on to those things--I didn't want to give them up and come here, even though your dad and I sensed God calling us to move to Africa. But the Lord helped me let go of those things by showing me I already had something much better--a relationship with Him and the promise of eternal life. I've never been as happy as I am here in Africa, sharing the good news of Jesus with the people I meet."

Anthony looked around their new home and smiled. "God really wants what's best for us, huh, Mom?"

Mom nodded. "Yes, He truly does."

–Hazel W. Marett

How About You?
What things do you want badly? Good grades? Nice stuff? Money? It's not bad to want things like that, but don't let them become a trap that distracts you from what truly matters. If you know Jesus, you already have the best thing of all--eternal life with Him. So don't set your heart on the things of this world. Instead, be willing to let them go as you trust God to lead you in His will for your life.

Today's Key Verse:
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. (NKJV) (Colossians 3:2)

Today's Key Thought:
Love God, not possessions