Pondering Proverbs - Part 1: Go to the Ant!

In family devotions, our family is studying the book of Proverbs. Because of that, I decided to write a short series on some different Proverbs that are definitely worth pondering! I thought that a fitting Proverb to begin this series is Proverbs 6:6, "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise." Let me explain - it's summer time. We've got more free time than usual on our hands and we have a more pronounced temptation to be lazy. This is something that I've been convicted of recently - are we using all of our time for the glory of God? (1 Corinthians 10:31) Are we wasting time on being lazy? Are we giving into the temptation to follow the way of the sluggard? Well, Solomon gives us some good advice on using our time for the glory of God in the book of Proverbs.

Solomon starts in Proverbs 6:6 with a plea to the sluggard. But wait ... what is a sluggard? What exactly defines him? To answer this, we'll speed ahead in Proverbs to chapters 19, 20, and 21:

"The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth." (Proverbs 19:24)

"The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing." (Proverbs 20:4)

"The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor." (Proverbs 21:25)

A sluggard is basically a couch potato. Someone who is so lazy that they stick their hand in the chip bowl, but are too lazy to put a chip in their mouth. Someone who doesn't bother working; they refuse to think about their future, and as a result, have nothing. Proverbs 21:25 sums it up perfectly: a sluggard is someone who's "hands refuse to labour." And Solomon is concerned about these couchaholics! That's why he directs their listless attention to the ant in Proverbs 6:6: Go to the ant, you couch potato! Watch her, study her, learn from her! Watch how diligently she works. Study how she never wastes a minute of time. Learn from her ability to always be doing something beneficial!

Though we may not quite be at the "sluggard" point yet, we all waste time. Especially in the summer. We all fall into the temptation of laziness at some point or another, even when we know that we could be labouring for the glory of God. But instead, we'd rather kick up our feet and break out the bon bons. Now I'm not saying all rest is bad. God created us to need sleep and need rest, but we must never waste time. Sleeping at night is not wasting time. Sleeping all day, every day, is. We must never be like the sleep-addict in Proverbs 6:9-11:

"How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man."

So as the last month of summer progresses, let's be aware of the temptation of laziness and go to the ant! Let's work on labouring for the glory of God! Let's be diligent in our study of the Bible. Let's not let our prayer life slack. Let's not choose to go the beach or the park rather than church. Let's be kind to one another. Let's do good works. Let's share the gospel and evangelize. Let's be lights to this dark world. And, my friends, let's go to the ant!