Day 6 – Read Proverbs 6
Wisdom from the Ant
One of the ways God speaks to us is through His creation. In Proverbs 6, He tells us to, “Take a lesson from the ants.” Why the ants? Out of all the creatures, why not choose the lion, bear, or cheetah? Because God is not quick to overlook the small things in life. He is always speaking, especially in the ordinary. Let’s learn how He speaks through these little creatures called ants.
Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! – Proverbs 6:6 NLT
Ants don’t live for applause. Notice verse seven says, “They have no governor or ruler to make them work.” That is, they don’t wait to be affirmed and applauded to work hard. Here is the lesson: liking applause and living for applause are two completely different things. We can like applause, but we are in trouble when we live for it. The ants don’t live for praise. That’s a great nugget of wisdom.
Hard Work Pays Off
Ants work hard. Simple point, but powerful. Hard work pays off! Verse eight says, “They labor hard all summer.” When I was in college, procrastination was a hurdle; I put things off until the last minute. The ants teach us a lesson here: Do the hard stuff first.
Here’s a practical tip: Look at your to-do list and focus on finishing the hard things first. But give yourself grace when you blow it! One of the disciplines I practice to this day is celebrating small victories and learning to reward myself for working hard.
We Are Called to Bear Fruit
Although, working doesn't necessarily mean that you're being productive. Ants are fruitful and productive. Verse eight tells us they not only labor hard all summer, but they “gather food for the winter.” That is, they're fruitful—not just busy!
Ants store up food for hard days. There's wisdom in preparing for the worst. Hard days will eventually come, and we need to be prepared for them. The ants teach us to store up just in case a famine strikes. But storing up doesn’t only refer to finances and food; we are to store God’s Word in our hearts so we can share it with others, because famines can be of a spiritual nature, too. What a lesson from the ants!
Dig Deeper
1. What important task do you need to finish this week?
2. What is the difference between being busy and fruitful?
3. Why is living for applause so dangerous?
