Go to the Ants: Gospel Today Devotional - 13th November, 2023

Many persons do not like to hear about ants, and many more are scared of it, why? The fact that it stings or bites as both words can be used interchangeably. This sometimes may either cause a mild reaction on the surface of the skin not to talk about the pain that it leaves the person with. At the sight of it, many persons prefer to kill it rather than let it live since they believe that it can so make a person feel temporarily uncomfortable as a result of its bite or sting.

 

That you do not like a thing does not mean that particular thing is useless. It sometimes may mean that you have only decided to focus on the negative part of that particular thing that you fail to see what great advantage it has. Glory to God. This is mainly in line with our lesson for today. I trust that the Lord will help us understand that which he wants for us to get in this lesson. Let's look at the passage of scripture below,

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: [7] Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, [8] Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. [9] How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? [10] Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: [11] So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man". (Proverbs 6:6-11).

We have established the fact that ants sting or bite and many people do not like that part of these tiny little creatures, right?  It is amazing how that although many detest this particular insect, the scripture says we can learn from her; we can consider her ways and be wise. Isn't this interesting? Come to think of it, what makes this insect so special? What can this tiny little insect possibly do? Why would scripture admonish to go to her, and to consider ways? What wisdom has this insert got to offer?  The scripture seeks to explain how that men although with leaders, overseers, and rulers could still live their lives just anyhow. This is why the ant is a very special creature. Let's examine the scripture.

As if to say the ant can speak, and tell us how to live, the scripture says to go to the ant, and to consider her ways. This means that we are to observe the lifestyle of the ant, see how it is she does her thing, watch carefully to know how she lives and in doing this, we would be wise to live our lives in a way that is appropriate. It is important to note that the ant has no leader but yet doesn't live her life as such. She needs no one to tell her it's summer or harvest, and even without a leader, she knows what to do. She doesn't sleep when she is supposed to be gathering her food in harvest, and providing for herself in summer. She is up and doing, and this is the reason she doesn't lack. The ant is not a sluggard, she doesn't fold her hands doing nothing. She does as it is expected of her and at the expected time.

So then, what excuse do we have? Could it be that the reason we lack is because we're folding our hands as believers doing nothing? Could it be that at summer and harvest, all we we do is sleep and fold our hands? This is the reason many lack, and many want but they can't have. The ant although disliked has in her the secret to abundance, and wealth. She does not lack, she does not want, and never affected by the situation of things because she works both in summer, and harvest while others are sleeping. She is never lazy? How long will you sleep dear believer? How long will you fold your hands to sleep? The truth is to have enough, and more than enough, you must consider the ways of the ant. May the Lord cause this word to dwell richly in our hearts. Amen.

Thought for the day: 

You can't have enough by being lazy. You cannot fold your hands to sleep and expect never to lack. You must consider the ways of the ant, she is never lazy. Do not be lazy.

Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08161655758 or Email: [email protected].