Go Study The Ant

Solomon says there are three things for the sluggard to learn. He needs to know because his way is hard due to his procrastination.  What is a sluggard? Think of the way ketchup oozes slowly out of a bottle when it is cold. The sluggard cannot make decisions. It’s too much work. He doesn’t see a reason to do things promptly, even things that need to be done.  Solomon says, “As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed” (Proverbs 26:14). That is a picture of his unprofitable routine.

He is lazy, constantly making easy choices and stubbornly ignoring the good opportunities that come to him.  This is written to all us because there is a sluggard in each of us. The sluggard is a recurrent figure in the book of Proverbs, which means we should heed the warnings.

The sluggard will not make up his mind; “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?” (Prov 6:9). He tells himself he will do it later, but later never comes. His second fault is that he never finishes anything. He starts many projects but finishes none; “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth” (Prov 26:15). The sluggard is good at making excuses, even though they sound ridiculous. Proverbs 22:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!” or, “I will be murdered in the streets!” (Prov 22:13). His excuses have now become a habit he cannot break.

Proverbs suggest that the sluggard study the ant: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” (Prov 6:6). We think about what we could learn from the ant—well, quite a bit. Ants are motivated; “It has no commander, no overseer or ruler” (Prov 6:7). Even though they don’t have someone directing their every move, they work. Secondly, they are not afraid of hard work, “yet it stores its provisions in summer” (Prov 6:8). Third, the ant prepares for the future; “yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” (Prov 6:8).

The ant is prepared to face the hardships of the coming winter. The sluggard will face the winter unprepared, “and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man” (Prov 6:11). Are you getting ready right now on this day of harvest? It is our job to prepare for what is ahead, both materially and spiritually. Are you growing and maturing in your faith? Winter will come for all of us. We must make the necessary provisions to be prepared.