Proverbs 6:6- Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Ants can be pretty annoying! They always get into stuff. They build these little piles of horror in your yard for you to step in. And, you can never seem to get rid of them!
So, why would God tell us to learn something from them?
Because ants are kind of remarkable.
If you study ants you will learn some things worth emulating.
1) Ants are grounded.
Have you ever tried to get rid of an ant hill. It's tough! They go down so far and spread out so wide!
Psalm 1:3- And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Our lives should be rooted and grounded in the word of God so much so that when someone comes along and tries to upset our lives it's got to take a lot of effort to get us out of there!
2) Ants can work individually and as a group.
Have you ever watched a line of ants? Each one carrying something different, but all headed for the same place. But, have you ever seen ants try to move something big? They can work together to get rid of this enormous obstacle and make the way for others.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12- Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Matthew 18:20- For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
There are times in our Christian life where we have to work and walk alone. But, there are also times when we need help! Isn't it a blessing when there are others to help you during the hard times?
3) Ants are great at preparation.
It seems all I ever see ants doing is collecting food and preparing for winter. It's almost like they don't even take a minute to enjoy the spring or summer. Busy, busy, busy.
II Corinthians 5:10- For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Each of us will one day stand before God to give an account of our lives. We will show him the things that we accomplished while on this earth. A wise man will make sure to prepare good things to bring forth during that time.
What will we show to the creator of the universe that we did with the time he gave us, the talents he bestowed to us, and the chances that he allowed us?
4) Ants have one queen.
Ants have only one person that they work for and obey. They aren't running around trying to please multiple leaders.
Matthew 6:24- No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Christians get so messed up tying to please the flesh, please the brethren, please everyone else that they forget God is the only person we really need to please.
We should listen to His word. We should work for His favor.
5) Ants give their lives for the good of the others.
Ants bite hard! Go ahead and step in an ant hill. they don't run away trying to save themselves. They'll crawl on you and attack you to get you away from the ant hill.
Philippians 2:4- Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Romans 14:7- For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
The things we do affect others. We should take this into account before just running off and doing what we please.
If you sin, and that encourages your brother to sin there's a chance that you could destroy his life. You may repent and get it right, but there's no guarantee that he will.
More is caught than taught. And, we will give an account on our actions and how they influenced others.
So, you see, those annoying little pests that we all try to get rid of can give us some pretty good life lessons, if we'll heed them.
