“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” — Proverbs 6:6-11
God displays his desire for our approach to life and work in one of the tiniest, weakest creatures. Made in the image of God, now we need ants to set the example! This section of Proverbs highlights one particular struggle we now face as fallen humans in a fallen world: laziness.
The Ant Speaks to Our Sin Nature
Through Solomon, God speaks to our selfish heart that is tempted to indulge sluggish desires, which hurt us and our families, communities, and churches. Habitual laziness is not a godly attribute. God’s grace does not lead to a slack approach to life. Rather, those who know God’s grace fear the Lord and take on an active, thoughtful, and disciplined approach to life.
The Ant Speaks to Our Misunderstanding of Work
This also speaks to our misunderstanding of work. It is easy to forget in our sin-marred world that work is good. God created us to work by tending the garden and ruling the earth. We bring God’s blessing to the earth through our natural and spiritual work.
Work is much more than our jobs outside of the home. Our work is everything we exert ourselves for, including godliness (1 Timothy 4:7). Work is a part of God’s good creation, and we are called to wake up and be ready to engage the world for his glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).
So, God is telling us, wake up and get to it. If the ant’s labor is important to God’s creation, how much more is yours as a man or woman created in the image of God?
Specific Lessons from the Ant on Life and Work
So, let’s see what we learn from the ant in these few verses about how to approach life and work.
1) Self-Discipline
Solomon tells us to consider the ant’s first character trait: self-discipline. “Without chief, officer, or ruler,” she wakes up and works. A wise person doesn’t need someone else to push them and remind them of their responsibilities, tasks, and goals. A wise person is self-motivated and self-controlled.
2) Forethought
The ant’s second character trait is forethought. Rather than needing someone else to drive her forward, the ant is driven forward by her thoughtfulness about the future. “She prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” Her preparation for the future is her guide. A wise person works with the future in mind.
3) Diligence
The ant’s third character trait is diligence. The ant doesn’t keep turning over in her bed, sleeping the day away, resting through the good times of life, and then complaining when the hard times come. She wakes up!
The lazy person is warned here that “poverty will come come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” Another Proverb tells us that laziness leads to forced labor, but that the diligent person will be in charge (Proverbs 12:24). The wise person works with steadiness and devotion to accomplish the tasks entrusted to him by God.
Wake Up, O Sleeper
Paul wrote to the Ephesians: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:14-15).
Spiritually, God calls us to wake up and let the light of Christ shine on us. God calls us to make the best use of our time, carefully examining our steps. We live and work for much more than the ant: what we do for Christ echoes into eternity. Let’s cast off spiritual laziness, dullness, and the works of darkness and walk in our resurrection life and purpose.
Look to the ant, and be wise!
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