Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6 uses straight-forward language to warn us about four things. It flashes four warning signals – like the ones on our car dashboards: (1) Don’t make yourself liable for someone’s else’s debt (v. 1-5); (2) Don’t give yourself to sleep instead of hard work (v. 6-11); (3) Don’t be taken in by those who offer schemes to make quick money (v. 12-19); and (4) Don’t be fooled by anyone who would lead you into adultery (v. 20-35).

Let’s zoom in on the second warning to avoid LAZINESS by considering the most successful of all social insects (v. 6-11). There are over 11,000 different kinds of ants. They number over 1 quadrillion worldwide (that is a 10 followed by 15 zeros). If all the ants in the Amazon rain forest were weighed, they would weigh four times more than all the other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians living in that area combined!

Having just watched a few of these six legged critters on our kitchen counter, here are three qualities worth following: (1) The Ant’s work is PRODUCTIVE. Thousands of ants may dwell in one colony, but every one of them pulls his own weight!

(2) The ant’s work is PERSISTENT.  Ants never get mad and quit. They never get paid or seek a promotion. If you destroy their anthill with your foot, they immediately set about rebuilding it.

(3) The ant’s work is a PARTNERSHIP. Each ant has its own role (storekeepers, engineers, drivers, workers). Their colonies are organized like cities with streets, supply rooms, hatcheries and barracks. They store up supplies for the future.

Application: Do you know your role and the importance of not being lazy? Do you work hard for your family members or work associates? Have you joined a ministry team in your church or at LifeBridge? Are you doing the job that Jesus calls you to do? God tells us that we can learn a lot from ants. They work productively, persistently and in partnerships! And if we can listen to the warning about not being LAZY and instead work hard, we will live wisely and experience the joy of a productive life!