Return to Index.

The Ant
May 7, 2011

I recently awoke to find ants scouting my kitchen looking for food and possibly with as dry as it has been here in the Chihuahua Desert of El Paso, water from the sink. Even though I was up earlier than usual in the morning, the ants were up even earlier. This made me reflect on verses from the Bible that speak to diligence and energy.

Proverbs 6:6-11
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Ants remind us of the need to be diligent in our activities as we see them search for food and water. Ants appear to be self-directed and have no supervision to get the job done. The ability to get a job done without supervision does set people apart in all aspects of their life. Though not always the case, those who are diligent hard-workers tend to enjoy a better quality of life than those who are not diligent and hard working. While the recent visitation of ants is the introduction for today's study, what we need to consider is the effects of being lazy, of being a sluggard.

For those who rely on or supervise the labor of others, we know how important it is to have reliable people. Unreliable people come in many forms. There are those who are unreliable because they lack some of the skills. These people can be taught, and when I supervise others, this is my preference. There are those who are unreliable because while they have the skills, they choose not to get the job done. Laziness, or being a sluggard is a choice. While it may not appear volitional, it is. Consider these verses:

Proverbs 10:26
As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

As any supervisor knows, a lazy employee can be a painful distraction to the business and the morale of other employees. Laziness can cause a person to use any reason to not do something. While we must exercise judgment when faced with new situations, many common everyday situations often do not rise to the level needed to advise the use of caution or avoidance of the situation.

Proverbs 20:4
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

The difficulty in dealing with somebody who is lazy is that they often do not see their own laziness. Others can discuss this with them, and they will not admit to their laziness.

Proverbs 26:16
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

In the end what is it that sets some apart from others? Productivity is what sets some apart, and when one compares a productive person to a lazy person, when all else starts the same, the productive person will accomplish more in life and enjoy a higher quality of life.

Proverbs 13:4
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

While the ant is a reminder to us of diligent behavior, it is up to each of us to choose to lead a diligent, productive life.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
Copyright and Legal Information
Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information