Proverbs_6

ScriptureProverbs 6:6Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! Observation - What does it say?Solomon encourages his listeners to observe the ants’ hard working and disciplined behavior and to learn wisdom from it. Understanding - What does it mean?Last summer I had an ant problem. They had been coming in around the sun window by the sink in our kitchen. At first I tried killing them with bleach cleaner, but new ones would come back after it dried. Katie got on Pinterest and looked up solutions. She tried baking soda and powdered sugar which I guess is like poison. Didn't work too well. She tried peppermint essential oil. It only worked a short time and the ants would be back as soon as it dried and the smell dissipated. Then I thought, I'll just figure out where they're coming in and block it off. They were coming in behind the window sill so I got my caulking gun from the garage and caulked it. No more ants... At least for a few hours. All of a sudden they were everywhere again, all over the wall and countertop. They were coming from the other side of the sill where it meets the drywall. So I caulked there. No more ants... At least for a few more hours. Then I found them coming in a little crack in the window. I caulked about 5 different spots and after each one, within a few hours, they just kept finding another way in. I ended up just leaving the caulking gun on the window sill and had come to expect them to find another way in. We had been playing this game almost a week, when finally, after what I hoped would be the last caulking job I saw them coming in from a different place. I exclaimed, "Those little fools!" And in my anger, started squishing them with my finger. Any I could see. In that moment of irrational rage I heard loud and clear in my mind: Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!Woah. Those "little fools" are actually wise. Lol What wisdom can I learn from ants, I thought? Well, they are incredibly persistent. They won't give up. They aren't easily deterred. They keep at it and have no plan B. Just plan A: get in Levi's house and drive him crazy. How big can an ant brain possibly be? I don't know that they have the capacity to think hard about what to do. They know what to do and do it. No excuses. They see no roadblocks, only obstacles they will overcome.  Life ApplicationIf I'm going to apply that wisdom to my life, there can be no, "God will work it out" attitude while I sit here passively." There can be no, "I'm just not feeling very motivated." "I'm too busy." "I'm tired." "God sees all the obstacles the enemy is placing in my way. He'll understand why I'm not going to try hard anymore."What areas have I been a sluggard? Where have I lacked persistence? Discipline? Where have I been making excuses instead of just knowing what's right and doing it?God, forgive me for the ways I’ve lacked discipline and persistence. Please help us to be a people that passionately pursues you and your mission, who don't shrink back and get destroyed by our circumstances, but who believe and overcome. Refuel us where we've been drained by hurt and discouragement and fan the flame of passion within us to know you and make you known. Amen.

 

-Levi Thompson