PROVERBS 6: CONSIDER THE ANT

Proverbs refers to a lazy person as a “sluggard” and recommends that he watch the behavior of the ant to “consider its ways and be wise!” (v. 6). The ant “has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions” in times of abundance for times of lack that may come in the future (vv. 7–8). I appreciate these lessons from the ant because they teach me that wise people can do what they should be doing without anyone telling them they need to do it and that they plan ahead during times of plenty for times of lack.

The Word of God teaches us to do whatever we do with all of our heart (Colossians 3:23). This means doing the best job we can possibly do and doing it with zeal and enthusiasm. Proverbs teaches us to be prudent, which means we are to be good managers of all our resources, including our time and our energy. Overworking is not healthy, while underworking is laziness and never leads to anything good. God wants us to work and to take time to enjoy the blessings our work yields. The longer a person is lazy, the lazier he or she becomes.

The only cure for laziness is action. At first, rousing oneself from laziness may be difficult, but a little discipline and diligence to do so will pay off in the end. Solomon instructs the lazy man not to lie around napping and not doing much of anything, because it will cause poverty to come on him “like a thief and scarcity like an armed man” (v. 11).

Sometimes you will need to work hard for what seems like a long time before you start to see the benefits. During that time you may feel tempted to give up or do the minimum required, but I urge you to keep being vigilant and working hard because it will bring a wonderful harvest of many good things.