Daily Devotional

-September 4, 2021-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

-Lessons From The Ant: Diligence, Preparation, And Hard Work.

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise; which having no captain, overseer, or ruler, provides her supplies in summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.”

(Proverbs 6:6-8)

There are a many animals and creatures mentioned in the Bible, but this is the only reference to the ant. We can learn some important lessons from this tiny creature. Solomon in his wisdom was able to bring these lessons to our attention.

Job who lived during the days of Abraham in the book of Genesis recognized what we can clean from the creatures that God created. Job 12:7-10 says, “But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among these does not know that the hand of God has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?”

God created all things and each one is unique and wonderful in its own way. When God directed Noah to build the ark, he was to lead them in two by two to keep them alive during the torrential rain and flood. Just as man repopulated the earth, so did all living creatures as well.

Of all God creatures, the ant, though not the smallest creature, is one of the smallest. Though small and not highly thought of by man, nonetheless has much to teach us.

Solomon writes, “Go to the ant, you sluggard, consider her ways and be wise.” A sluggard is a lazy person. The ant is the antithesis of laziness. The ant is in fact a great example of diligence. Solomon speaks much about diligence and the diligent throughout the book of Proverbs. Ants have been documented to be able to carry up to twenty times their own body weight. If a human could lift twenty times their own body weight that would be about 4,000 pounds!

Though we consider ants pests, we have to respect their hard work and resourcefulness. They have no captain or ruler, yet they get a lot done. They prepare their supplies in summer so that they will have food to eat in the fall. They are definitely not procrastinators!

Just think if we were as diligent, hardworking, industrious, and prepared as the ant what we could accomplish. We wouldn’t wait until the last minute to buy Christmas gifts, file our taxes, study for tests, or many other important things we do for our homes or jobs.

As believers in Christ, we should be examples of diligence in all areas of our lives. We can’t let laziness, indifference, or procrastination affect us, especially in the Lord’s work. We should be well prepared to work hard for the Lord with excellence. In other words, we should carry our weight, do our part to further the kingdom of God. Ants become giants by adding G-I (Great Intensity).

Have a blessed day working hard, preparing fully, and being diligent in all we do for the Lord. Let’s be ants for Jesus! Stay safe and healthy.

In His grace,

Dean