Ants Aren’t Lazy

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.Learn from their ways and be wise!Even though they have no prince,governor, or ruler to make them work,they labor hard all summer,gathering food for the winter.But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?When will you wake up?I want you to learn this lesson:A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

Proverbs 6:6-11

You might not realize that the proverb that we look at every day is taken from the daily proverb in the One Year Bible. I love this reading schedule. It takes us sequentially through the whole counsel of God. I love that the Proverbs address practical and important life issues.

Today’s Wisdom for Women deals with the topic of personal diligence and uses the amazing little ant as an example. These tiny creatures put some of us to shame. What’s the secret of their success? They just keep at it, even though no one is standing over them telling them to.

Child of God, consider the ant. One of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control because it’s a by-product of the Spirit’s presence in our life. We need to start there. Diligence needs to start, first of all, in spiritual things, seeking first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. Then asking him to fire you up. Ask God to give you the work ethic of our wise little friend, the ant.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

I love the ant! She is the perfect illustration of the principle “Inch by inch, anything’s a cinch!” Let’s apply her example. For instance, why don’t we clean out our closets? Because, once they start getting messy, messy takes over—right? Well, let’s reverse the process. March into your closet and put five items in place. I’m going to. Now, savor the small victory and it will inch you on to others. Yay ants!

One Year Bible Reading

Exodus 10:1–12:13; Matthew 20:1-28; Psalm 25:1-15; Proverbs 6:6-11