HoHum:
Ants are a nuisance. Ever had ants get in the kitchen or dining area? See just a few of them and the next time we see a steady stream, whole horde of ants. Have to do something so go to the hardware store and get ant poison. Put drops of that stuff here and there and the ants take that back to their nest and poison the whole colony of ants. Thankful for that chemist who found this. Even so, some ants are considered beneficial. In the American tropics, army ants are welcomed as highly efficient insect exterminators. The inconvenience caused by having the army ants in a house is outweighed by the fact that, when the ants leave, the house will be free of insects. Tomorrow is Labor Day and many have the day off. Remember the mascot for tomorrow, an ant. In the book of Proverbs ants are used to teach a positive lesson. “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” Proverbs 6:6, NIV.
Thesis: What positive lessons can we learn from ants?
For instances:
Ants provide an indictment for lazy people
There are more than 5000 known species of ants, including the 600 species and subspecies that live in the United States. Their habits vary significantly. Most ants nest in the ground, but others have an ability to use a wide variety of nest sites. Ants differ in size, color, and food preference. In spite of their variety, ants have one thing in common. They are workers! Ants are diligent creatures. Whether it is scouting out food at a picnic, carting a morsel back to the anthill, burrowing in the ground, feeding the larvae, protecting the queen, or fighting battles against adversaries, the ant is constantly active.
In Proverbs 6, the ambitious ant provides an indictment of the sluggard who refuses to do his share of work. God is not pleased with the person who is lazy. Genesis introduces us to a God who works. For 6 days God labored, creating the universe. Genesis 2:2 relates that, on the 7th day, God finished his work and rested. God was not tired and needing a break, but there was a temporary change of pace in his activity. God is at work today sustaining his creation, restraining evil, and bringing people to the cross. “Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”” John 5:17, NIV. God created human beings to share in his work. Remember working with Grandpa and even remember working with my dad, going to the hog pens and helping to birth the piglets. There is something about working together that enhances relationships. God created man for fellowship with him. “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, NIV. God planted the garden, and man was to cultivate it. They shared in the work. The Bible makes it clear that God considers laziness a sin. “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.” Proverbs 10:4, 5, NIV. The one talent man who buried his talent and refused to work was called a “wicked, lazy servant,” by Jesus (Matthew 25:26). Even Paul said, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”” 2 Thessalonians 3:10, NIV. The book of Provers suggests 4 characteristics of a lazy person.
1. They can’t get started in the morning. “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-- and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” Proverbs 6:9-11. It is a battle to get out of the bed for them. “As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.” Proverbs 26:14. Have a sore back if lay in bed too long. This person rolls over to turn off the snooze alarm again and again. “Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.” Proverbs 20:13. Staying awake is struggle for me
2. They seldom finish anything. “The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions.” Proverbs 12:27, NIV. The sluggard enjoys the hunt- that’s the fun part. He does not want to clean and roast the game- that the work part. One of the characteristics of a lazy person is the failure to complete projects. “If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks.” Ecclesiastes 10:18, NIV. Need to replace the rafters and repair those leaks- I’ll get to it tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes.
3. They are full of excuses. They have an excuse for everything. “The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!” or, “I will be murdered in the streets!”” Proverbs 22:13, NIV. Find a hundred excuses not to work. Can’t do that today because of this or that. Ecclesiastes 11:4 in the Living Bible says, “If you wait for perfection conditions, you will never get anything done.” More literally it says, “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” Ecclesiastes 11:4, NIV.
4. They appear to get bad breaks. One thing after another goes wrong. The car breaks down at the most inopportune time. The competition comes up with a new product just before the sale was to be closed. The electricity went off during the night so the alarm was off. “The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.” Proverbs 15:19, NIV. In other words, we make our own breaks. It’s amazing how many times good “luck” comes to those who work. The lazy person thinks that failure is due to bad breaks. My grandpa said many times, Boy, get up and do something, even if it wrong, do something. Those who are doing something seem to be rewarded. “A sluggard does not plough in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.” Proverbs 20:4, NIV.
Transition: Proverbs 6:6- The ambitious ant incriminates lazy people
The Ant provides an incentive for laboring people
In observing ant colonies, Solomon was impressed that these tiny creatures worked instinctively and voluntarily. “It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” Proverbs 6:7, 8, NIV. God designed the ant with an instinct for work. Many people regard work as a curse. Might regard current job as a curse but God wants us to be doing something constructive. It is true that since the Fall in Genesis 3, work is often difficult and frustrating but Adam and Eve were given work to do before they sinned. Work is part of God’s very good creation. In what ways is work good?
1. Partners with God. When we work, we are partners with God in providing for the needs of the world. A deacon showed the new preacher around his farm. The preacher was impressed with the pasture surrounded by a beautiful white fence. He said, “The Lord sure has a beautiful pasture here.” When the minister saw the scenic man made lake, he said, “The Lord certainly has a lovely lake there.” He looked at the wheat and corn fields and said, “The Lord has a good crop growing there.” Finally, the farmer said, “Preacher, you should have seen this place when the Lord had it all by himself!” Adam and Eve worked as partners with God to take care of the garden. When we work at legitimate labor, we are co laborers with God in providing for his world. There are 220 different occupations mentioned in the Bible, and each one is a partnership with God. It is important to realize that God uses our work even if no one ever says, “I thank God for what you are doing.” Once we grasp this idea, it revolutionizes our attitude toward work. We are not performing a task just to draw a paycheck or to please an employer, but to serve God and other people. Then it is much easier to be like an ant, working hard without being pushed by an overseer or ruler. The Scripture agrees, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23, 24, NIV. We go to work for the same reason we go to church- to worship and serve Christ.
2. Character Development. God uses our work to develop character in us. The proverb does not say, “Consider the ant and be rich,” but, “Consider the ant and be wise.” Riches may come to those who work hard, but God is much more concerned about our character than he is about our comfort. God develops character through difficulty. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4. Maybe the job is a trial for us- so miserable. Maybe fantasize about working in a Christian environment were people are so wonderful and just sing hymns around the coffee pot. Maybe your job is where God wants you to be. James suggests that instead of just moping around, feeling sorry for ourselves at work, we ought to count it all joy. The next time the boss gives us a hard time, go to him with a smile and say, “Thanks! God is really using you to develop my character!” I’m sure he’ll be impressed!
3. Self esteem. “That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:13, NIV. “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.” Proverbs 22:29, NIV. This does not mean that every skilled worker will be called to the White House. But there is a sense of honor and dignity that results from legitimate work. Talk about family. Talk about Lee- landscaper; Donna- works with State Department; Ann- works as guidance counselor; both of them are new mothers and talk about labor there; Andy works as youth minister and Zach, Zane work at Chick- fil- A; Alex and Crystal work at Johnson University and then there is me; should we define people by what they do for a living, no but we often do get a sense of pride- may it be godly pride for the good job that God’s children are doing. “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.” Titus 3:14, NIV.
Invitation: Noteworthy that an ant lives less than 6 months and an ant eats just a tad more than a single grain of wheat in it’s lifetime. Even so, a typical ant gathers enough food to sustain an ant’s body for many years. Why do that? What’s the point? Never see the benefit of the work. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30, NIV. The churches I have served are blessed by the work of people who are no longer there. When is the best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago. Second best time is right now.
