Proverb 6:6-8

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about work ethic:

Proverbs 6:6-8
"Go to the ant, O Sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, which haven no chief, officer, or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest."

I don't know what is more impressive about this proverb: 1) that Solomn uses something so little and insignificant as an "ant" to teach us something so big, Or, 2) by observing the ant we can learn wisdom? I can imagine Solomon sitting on the deck of his house eating a sandwich and thinking of something wise to write to you and me. As he reaches for the roast beef on rye bread he spots a single ant working his way up the table leg with the mindset of a noon snack. Solomon observes that the ant has to go a long way. He doesn't stop for anything. He has no one yelling to him to move along. He has no one to "command" him. He is coming to get food for tomorrow and refuses to wait for tomorrow to get it. The ant waste no time.  The ant does not do unprofitable activities.   The ant is our example and our "ant-te-dote" for being the lazy sluggard, or wasting time. The ant - the little guy who can carry much more than his weight. The little guy who goes to work every day without complaining or worrying about the weather. Solomon gives us a large picture through a small example. Go to the ant and be wise.

This is an Emblematic Proverb (word picture poem) and the meaning is rather obvious. Those who have trouble being self-motivated are to consider the ways of the ant. The ant doesn’t have anyone to tell him (or, her) what to do. They simply do what they do best (what they are made for) and don’t need to be instructed. Our society today could use a lot of the ant’s character. We pay men and women a lot to simply motivate others to work and watch them do it (we call it leadership). But, the wise person needs no external motivation. Our motivation to work and to plan and to be prepared for the “winter” of our life ought to be something we do naturally. But, we rely upon society to push us. True wise people don’t need society to push us. We should be more like the ant at work rather than the slug! Which are you?