The Sneetches by Dr Seuss (video link)
The crux of the story, and I might add it’s underlying message of marketing brilliance, is found in the role of Sylvester McMonkey McBean who offers the plain-bellied Sneetches a trip through his star-on machine for "three dollars eaches."
Once they've paid their money, McBean turns to the original star-bellies and declares, "Star bellies are no longer in style," and offers them a trip through his star-off machine -- for "ten dollars eaches."
McBean quickly induces all the Sneetches to run around desperately, going through first one machine and then the other -- making McBean extremely rich as a result.
Over the years, I've shared this story with high school students and asked them, "Who is Sylvester McMonkey McBean in your life?"
The answers come fast: "Magazines. Television. Advertisements. Music videos. Friends. Parents."
I also ask, “What are the stars that you wear?” The brand names and items they list would make your head spin – then again as a parent – maybe not?
The thing that gets me is the list all the things – all the wants – all the needs – with a sense of identity – or perhaps we might call it today - a sense of pride in their ability to possess and wear them. I then ask, "How much did they pay you to wear their products?" Almost stupified, the students respond that they paid more for the things with the logo, not less. As you might guess, this is the moment when I get to say, “Exactly!”
We live in a world that serves itself. This world, if you listen and follow, will lead you into becoming a self-serving, self-gratifying, self-seeking individual. And if the world as a whole doesn’t get it done, we let the Sylvester McMonkey McBeans step in and do the rest. You see, PRIDE will lead us to doing lots of things. Now don’t get me wrong, we do it all with right intentions . . .
All the other kids have “it” . . . I didn’t want my kids to be left out . . . My neighbors got one . . . so it seemed that it was time for us to get one to . . . Everyone else has one . . . If I had one . . .
Pride of life, Pride of things, Pride of Status, Pride of whatever can lead us to do some bizarre things (well at least bizarre in hindsight – we all have picture of fashion mistakes). Let’s face it we are all guilty of a bit of pride.
I believe that it is good to be proud of the things we accomplish. But when being proud turns into being full of pride we are travelling down a very slippery path - a path that leads us to trust in a life of significance that is only measured by what we have in comparison to others and not in worth and value as found in relationship to God. Pride is subtle in the way it invades our life.
Pride leads us to spend more than we have . . . Buy what we don’t need . . . Causes us to stretch the truth . . . brag a little more (The fish I caught was thisssssssss big)
Parents, are you teaching your kids how to make money or to be good stewards of what they have? Are you teaching them how to be successful or to be significant?
Let me state again . . . the sin of Pride is a tricky one. I believe that it is good to be proud of the things we accomplish. But when being proud turns into being full of pride we are travelling down a very slippery path – a path that leads us to trust in a life of significance that is only measured by what we have in comparison to others and NOT in worth and value as found in relationship to God.
Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
I John 2:15-17 The Message
Let’s turn back to Dr Seuss for a moment . . . What are some of the stars in your life? What in your life causes you to look at “it” and say, “I’m okay . . .look at what I have!” Who or what are the Sylvester McMonkey McBeans in your life ‘selling’ you these stars? Have you looked away from others because they did not have a star on thars? Have you become a Star Bellied Sneetch? Have you pursued other things, other interests, in such a way that God became secondary in your life?
I invite you to remove your stars and label them for what they are or write the name of your McBean on them?
Leave behind the pride of things and embrace pride in the One who has saved you from it all.
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