Scriptures from the N.I.V.
The Ant's Lesson
(C) 2002 by Charlie Read
These
days we don’t often hear the term
“sluggard,” but believe me – it’s not a compliment.
Webster’s defines it as “an habitually lazy person” – the
type of person who is so slothful and lacking in ambition that he will
never accomplish anything worthwhile.
The lowly ant can teach us a
valuable lesson about ambition and motivation.
In the Book of Proverbs we read, “Go
to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no
commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.” (Pro. 6:6-8).
This little insect may be a pest at picnics, but can certainly
never be accused of being a sluggard!
If I owned a large factory
that employed hundreds of people, I’d wear myself out if I had to remind
everyone of their duties day after day.
I’d hope that after a short time of initial training, my
employees would learn their tasks and attend to them faithfully!
I would certainly keep my eye out for those who learned quickly,
worked hard, and saved me time by needing little or no supervision.
Likewise, anything God gives us to do is our calling and our ministry, and
we should fulfill it to the best of our ability.
Notice that the ant has no guide,
overseer, or ruler . . . yet it fulfills its purpose in life with
dogged determination. If
God’s people would only be as like-minded, it’s hard to tell what we
could accomplish. Have you
noticed that some folks always need to be told exactly what to do, and
then often obey only grudgingly? Others
seem zealous to see what all they can accomplish in this short life.
Without someone prodding them on, they study their Bibles, witness
to neighbors, advance in business, and accomplish many things in life – not because they have
to, but because they want to!