Scripture Passage: Proverbs 6
“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.” – Proverbs 6:6-8
It is great wisdom to learn from the little things of life. The Bible says: “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; ~ Prov 30:24-25.
Here are a few wisdom nuggets from the School of the Ant for all who are humble enough to learn:
1. Hard work: Ants are hardworkers. It’s amazing how these little insects can pick up particles of food ten times their size. They carry the particles from one location to another (usually far from where they picked it from). With hard work, commitment and dedication they eventually achieve their goal (Read Proverbs 10:4-5).
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” – Genesis 2:15
- Dear friend, in the Garden of Eden, way before the fall of man, God created work as part of man’s purpose.
- Do not be lazy and idling about; that is not God’s wisdom. We must be responsible and work diligently on the tasks given to us.
- Jesus Himself said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” — John 9:4-5
2. Personal Initiative. “The ant has no overseer, ruler or commander…” Yet it has the personal drive to get to business before winter falls, where not much can be done.
- One of the greatest goods a man can do for himself is to develop a life of discipline and personal responsibility. This has great rewards both in this life and in the life to come.
- Even in the workplace/academics, those who have personal initiative and self-discipline always go ahead of those who need ‘overseers’ before they do what needs to be done.
“Discipline is the ability to put yourself in check, stay on course, and do what is acceptable before God and man. It is aligning your thoughts, emotions, and actions to God’s instructions” – Rev Simon Ampofo
3. Invest for the future: “… yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” God is more interested in our character development than our comfort. He’s not going to give us great things if we haven’t learned the principles of contentment and working with little.
Start an investment account with your little finances; invest time to learn an employable skill; invest time to read helpful books. No matter how small, start investing for your future.
If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? (Luke 16:10-11)
4. Teamwork and Collaboration: The ants know that they can’t achieve much alone, so they work as a team. As in all cases, wisdom teaches that teamwork makes the dream work.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” – Eccl 4:9-10
I found some extra life lessons from ants on the image below that you should check out.
Just like the ant you can rise up today and get to work. With dedication, commitment, and personal initiative, I see you achieving goals you never thought possible in your lifetime. I see the Lord bringing you helpers to help you accomplish great things!
Jesus said, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of the one who sent us, for night cometh where no man can work” – John 9:4. I encourage you to learn from the little things of life and you will be far wiser than you could imagine. – Rev Simon Ampofo
- What lesson(s) from the ant can you start applying today or this week? Let’s interact in the comments.
Hey, you're blessed and highly favoured and dearly loved!
☆ IG/X/FB: @awg_devotional
Disclaimer: this post contains portions of messages and text originally shared by Rev Simon Ampofo (who is one of my father in the faith).