Scripture:
Proverbs 6:6-9
Vs 6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise.
Vs 7 Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,
Vs 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
Vs 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
Observation:
The writer has very strong warnings and advice for how to live out the everyday life.
Don’t be a “sluggard”!
Don’t “lie there”!
“Arise”!
And interestingly, his inspiration to his reader is not to be like a lion, “king of the beasts”, or an eagle, “soar above all”.
His advice is to “go to the ant”.
This is not to “be” the ant.
It’s to “observe” the ant.
“Learn” from the ant.
I can learn from the humblest of creation how to live in a way that honors my Creator!
Application:
I live in a unique time in history. The concept of leisure was once a luxury. Now it seems to be a lifestyle sought by virtually everyone.
Maybe it’s not world cruises, perhaps it just Netflix binges.
It’s never been easier to be a sloth!
Everyone wants to be their own boss and do what they want, when they want.
And it usually means doing very little, but wanting a lot in return.
This proverb’s warning, though, is not about taking orders.
(“The ant has no chief, no officer”.)
This warning is about taking responsibility.
This is doing what’s right, when it’s right.
There’s a time for sowing and a time for reaping, but guess what? It all takes work!
It’s easy to think sowing is working, but reaping is relaxing.
No, both entail responsibility!
Sowing and reaping both entail effort and work, but you don’t get the latter without the former.
Just like the referenced ant had a time of preparing and a time of gathering, even looking to nature, I can see living out a way that honors the way God created it.
I need to humble myself and continue to learn.
Then, I need to actually do what I know needs to be done.
When I do not live out the way God creates me, it’s an offense all over again to God.
I am exerting a sort of sovereignty of my own to be lazy, To not take responsibility.
To honor myself more than my Creator.
When Adam did this, he heard from God the question, “Adam, where are you?”
I need to be alert for where God is asking me, “Where are you?”
Where am I falling short in my responsibilities?
Where am I putting my own desire to “lie there” ahead of my God given responsibility to be there?
Where am I dishonoring God in my laziness?
Where am I dishonoring others by not taking responsibilities seriously?
I need to realize my irresponsibly will likely become someone else’s responsibility!
Where do I hear God’s question to Adam and to me:
“Where are you?”
Prayer:
Thank you, God for your word.
Thank you for simple lessons from even the humblest of creation.
Help me learn, but even more so, help me live out your ways.
Help me take responsibility.
Thank you that Jesus has taken responsibility for my sin.
Help me live in this freedom and forgiveness.
Help me live from this righteousness and not for righteousness.
In Jesus name
Amen