Go To The Ant

Proverbs 6:6-8 – Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. (NKJV)

I was recently watching a procession of singers filing offstage. I had a birds-eye view, captured by a drone. That procession reminded me of ants, which move in just such an orderly manner.

In today's passage, King Solomon had a lot to say about the ant. He saw wisdom in the lifestyle of the ant: hard work, proactiveness, and forethought. Thinking about that, I had an epiphany: God gave the ant certain characteristics that He wanted us to see and emulate.

To consider the ant, there must be moments of humility and introspection. The ant is a creature that we overlook, trample, and ignore in our daily lives. But if we think about our lives and actions, and if, in that moment of thought, we begin to appreciate this creation of God, then in that mood of appreciation, we can gain insight into what God expects from us. It's a humbling moment.

In the ant, I see orderliness. No one tells a colony of ants that are harvesting a crumb to line up. No one tells them not to fight for a piece of the crumb. We just see them move in an orderly fashion, like soldiers. Some are coming while others are going.

Also, the ant breaks boundaries. In the colony, there are no motivators or therapists who say, "You can do it! You just need to take a deep breath, then you can lift a crumb five times your size." Not at all! Ants just perform that feat because they are created with an understanding of their strength and capacity. When we are reborn in Christ, we have His assurance and promise that we can perform unheard-of feats. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13 NKJV) So, what else do we need? Which other motivational book do we need to read? The Bible has said it; then it is so.

The ants are unified. I have seen an invasion of ants temporarily send occupants of rooms packing. That's because the ants are not lone rangers. They move together. We complain about the corruption and debauchery plaguing the world today. Have we gathered together like the disciples in the upper room to pray? When believers gather in twos and threes like the ant — not to complain, but to pray — Satan is sent packing.

The ants gather their food in the harvest. They have an understanding of the seasons. Likewise, we need to have an understanding of the times in which we live.

So, have you been relaxing in your comfort zone? Procrastinating? Lacking in humility for insight? Not ready to work with others? Not understanding the times? Go to the ant!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give us the grace and humility that we need to come out of ourselves and see with open eyes these relevant lessons that You have planted all around us. Amen.

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