The Cookie Monster ∙∙

The Cookie Monster ∙∙

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. – Philippians 2:3

James 3:13-15

 13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life and doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.

 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.

Those who fondly recall their beloved children’s television series Sesame Street will surely remember the iconic Cookie Monster. This Muppet, adorned in blue fur and complete with wide, googly eyes, was known for his insatiable appetite, primarily for cookies. His catchphrases, “Me want cookie!”, “Me eat cookie!”, or simply “COOKIE!” He had an all-consuming habit of devouring anything and everything that came his way. Every time the Cookie Monster ate, he made a distinctively loud munching sound, “OMM-nom-nom-nom…”

At first glance, Cookie Monster could come off as gruff and even a tad intimidating. He was clumsy and somewhat awkward. He often left a mess behind him wherever he appeared. But like many childhood “monsters,” he was quite harmless, endearing, and even friendly in his unique way.

His inability to resist consuming anything he could get his paws on could have easily qualified him as a charter member of “Overeaters Anonymous.” His life philosophy might have been, “I want what I want when I want it!”

Should Cookie Monster ever look back, he’d find a chaotic trail of cookie crumbs, pie crusts, and whatever else fell from his mouth or paws as he ambled through life.

Somehow, in one way or another, we can identify with him. Why? Because the spirit of Cookie Monster lurks within every child of the King. It is almost as though he is part of our fallen DNA. He cares only for himself and getting his own way. Cookie Monster epitomizes one troubling aspect of human nature – “selfish ambition.” While Cookie Monster is fictional, “selfish ambition” is a reality.

“‘Selfish ambition’ stands at the heart of human fallenness, where self-interest and self-aggrandizement at the expense of others primarily dictate values and behavior” (Fee).

REFLECT & PRAY

“Selfish persons are incapable of loving others, but they are not capable of loving themselves either” (Erich Fromm).

Father selfish ambition is so destructive. Enable me to see it whenever it raises its monstrous head within my heart and take it under control.

INSIGHT

If Sesame Street had been around when the apostle Paul lived, what would he say about Cookie Monster? The apostle Paul is crystal clear that Cookie Monster’s self-centeredness and insatiable desire are entirely incompatible with the Father’s expectations for the children of the King.

Paul himself was once consumed by selfish ambition. His problem was not a ravenous appetite like Cookie Monster. It was something far worse. He was a violent, ravenous, relentless persecutor of the Lord Jesus Christ and His followers. His ambition led him to inflict harm without restraint. He left chaos in his wake wherever he journeyed, disrupting people’s lives.

Galatians 1:13 You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion – how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it.

Moreover, Paul was totally deceived and misled, believing that his aggressive and hostile actions were in service to the living God. This misconception was shattered when the Lord Jesus Christ confronted him on the road to Damascus. He realized the error of his ways.

This revelation immediately changed his way of thinking and living. He managed to control the Cookie Monster within him, lock him in a cage deep within his heart, and toss away the key. Paul urged all the children of the king to follow suit, control their own selfish desires, and live a life of selflessness and love.

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit.

The Greek word for selfish ambition is eritheia. Eritheia connotes those who seek their own way. This word is all about “me” and my self-interest. It encompasses the idea of the strong desire for personal success without regard to the consequences.

Cookie Monster personifies the idea: “I want what I want when I want it.” Such selfishness frequently results in strife and contention. Actions driven by selfish motives typically lead to discord and division.

Folks with selfish ambition want to win at all costs. This is often seen in modern politics. “Some politicians care nothing about the truth; they just care whether their party wins. They are passionate about their point but care little about its veracity. They do not care about the welfare of their constituency; they are simply squabblers in a petty campaign. They fight to win, not to find truth” (Richison).

The Greek word translated as conceit is kenodoxia. Kenodoxia is composed of two Greek words: kenos – vain, empty, and doxa – glory. It could be translated as vainglory, self-exultation, or empty pride. The primary idea behind this word is “empty opinion, error.” “Thus, it could depict a person who, though conceited, had no reason for it” (Ash, The College Press NIV Commentary).

During World War II, British intelligence enlisted magicians’ skills to craft massive illusions. Among these magicians was Jasper Maskelyne, renowned for employing camouflage and mirror tricks to create grand-scale deceptions. He “magically” fabricated the illusion of vast armies that didn’t exist, creating a convincing facade with no real substance behind it. For instance, he designed inflatable tanks that, from an aerial view, were indistinguishable from actual tanks. Maskelyne also mastered the art of making actual military forces and weaponry “disappear” in plain sight. His illusions misled enemy bombers. They were tricked and would hit the wrong targets.

Sadly, Cookie Monster hides in a dark place in our hearts. Now and then, he jumps out and gobbles up whatever interests him. When you look back over your shoulder, what do you see?

The tragedy of life and the world is not that men do not know God; the tragedy is that knowing Him, they still insist on going their own way (Barclay).

James encourages us to live an honorable life with humility and wisdom and eschew selfish ambition (James 3:13-15).

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© Dr. H 2024