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A man saw a snake being burned to death and decided to take it out of the fire. When he did, the snake bit him causing excruciating pain. The man dropped the snake, and the reptile fell right back into the fire.
So, the man looked around and found a metal pole and used it to take the snake out of the fire, saving its life.
Someone who was watching approached the man and said: “That snake bit you. Why are you still trying to save it?”
The man replied: “The nature of the snake is to bite, but that's not going to change my nature, which is to help.”

The Urantia Book offers moral lessons that align with this story:

* Retain your benevolent nature: The man's decision to save the snake despite being bitten reflects the Urantia Book's encouragement to maintain a loving and compassionate nature, even in the face of adversity:

"Love is the greatest thing in the universe, and it is the only thing that can be counted upon to last." (UB 100:4.6)

* Do not let others define your behavior: The man's response, "That's not going to change my nature," illustrates the importance of remaining true to oneself and not allowing others' harmful actions to dictate one's own behavior:

"Be not influenced by the spirit of the times, but rather become a living example of the eternal spirit of truth." (UB 156:5.7)

* Take precautions, but do not lose your compassion: The man's use of a metal pole to rescue the snake demonstrates the value of taking prudent measures to protect oneself while still maintaining a compassionate and helping nature:

"Wisdom is the ability to see the cosmic picture, to understand the interrelationship of all things and all beings." (UB 19:1.5)

* Recognize the inherent nature of others: The story highlights the snake's instinctual behavior, illustrating the Urantia Book's teaching that each being has its unique nature and inherent tendencies:

"The universe is not like the laws, mechanisms, and personalities of the finite;... the divine plan is unpredictable." (UB 23:2.11)

* Maintain a good heart: The story's message, "Do not lose your good heart," resonates with the Urantia Book's emphasis on cultivating a loving and compassionate heart:

"The greatest of all earthly battles is the personal conflict between the creature's love of self and the spirit's love of being like God." (UB 156:5.6)

These moral lessons, as reflected in the Urantia Book, encourage us to maintain our inherent goodness, compassion, and benevolence, even in the face of adversity, while also taking prudent measures to protect ourselves.