Go to the Ants...

Author - Stuart Crouch

As we enter 2020 many of us tend to reflect on what we accomplished in the past year and set plans for the current year. With that in mind, Lets look to the bible for some motivation.

Often in scripture, we are admonished to look to God’s creation for wisdom and even answers to some of life’s dilemmas. The Psalmist David, for example, points to the power and majesty of God when he writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). As well, Job specifies how we can learn from the various elements of nature when he advises looking to the beasts, the birds, the fish, and even the earth itself to behold the power of God (Job 12:7-10). Paul carries on this theme when he says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). It is not surprising, then, that in our text in Proverbs 6, the preacher uses another of God’s creations from which we can learn, “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise.” Ants are the most numerous creatures on earth. Ironically, they can be found on every continent except ANT-arctica. God has left a model for all of us that transcends any geographically inhabited boundary. Ants are good teachers when it comes to considering laziness and a lack of discipline in our lives. In Proverbs 6, Solomon uses ants to teach his son a lesson about the sin of laziness. There are at least three ways we can look to the ant for wisdom.

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