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THE WORLD, THE
WORD & YOU! RADIO BROADCAST
Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator
“OF THE MANY LESSONS IN LIFE, ONE OF
THE BIGGEST CAN COME FROM THE LITTLEST OF CREATURES. KING SOLOMON OF OLD
TOOK THE TIME TO STUDY THE CREATION AND FOUND THIS TO BE TRUE."
I’m Dennis
Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a
moment we’ll talk about God’s Word and THE LESSON FROM THE ANTS…
…In the Bible,
the Old Testament, we have what is called the Book of Proverbs. This is a
collection of wisdom sayings, intended to serve as a guide for daily living
in ways pleasing to God. The sayings cover many different topics, exploring
attitudes and relationships, and evaluating such things as wealth, poverty,
and power, and of course one’s relationship to God as Creator. Many of the
divinely given sayings in this book, were written or collected by the
ancient King Solomon, one of the wisest men who ever lived, some 950 years
before Christ was born. Today, I want to explore one section of these wise
sayings to discover a wealth of good and practical teachings that come forth
for living in the 21st century. As King Solomon turned his
inquisitive eyes to the creation, he discovered some amazing truths found in
the littlest of creatures – the ants. So, after one more pause for musical
refreshment, I’ll return to share with you Solomon’s lessons learned …
…In today’s
study from the Word of God, we go directly to the Bible and we read in the
Book of Proverbs, King Solomon’s findings as he observed one of the
littlest of God’s creatures, the ants.
Prov 6:6-11 (NLT) Take a lesson from the ants,
you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! 7 Even though they have no
prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor hard all summer,
gathering food for the winter. 9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?
When will you wake up? I want you to learn this lesson: 10 A little extra
sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-- 11 and
poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an
armed robber.
Of course bible
believing followers of Jesus Christ hold that the entire Bible is the inspired,
inerrant and infallible revelation of God for His highest creature created, that
is mankind. As such, we look at these words that have lasted through time to
note that God wanted us to learn this lesson from the ants that Solomon shared
with us. Now, the main teaching of the text is “a person can become financially
destitute by laziness as well as by foolish dealings.” Solomon’s advice, or
better yet, shall we say God’s advice, is take a lesson from the ants He created
and observe them. Well what can we learn from those silly little creatures
called ants? To begin,
The study of ants
is called MYRMECOLOGY [mer-ma-kol-e-gy]. I’ve discovered many things about ants
in my own research for this broadcast. For instance, ants came into existence by
the creative act of God, just before mankind was created.
Gen 1:24-25 (NIV) And God said, “Let the land
produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that
move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it
was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock
according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground
according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Indeed, those
little scurrying creatures we call ants are a divine creation of God. Today it
is estimated that there are over 20,000 different species of ants which are
found in every portion of the earth on which we live. Indeed, anyone who stoops
down to observe these creatures will be fascinated by them, as King Solomon was.
Studies have found that the ant is the HERCULES OF INSECTS; able to lift
twenty times its own body weight. Moreover, ants don’t live long though, for
most have a life expectancy of 45-60 days at best. However, they live very
complex and highly structured lives. They are resilient creatures too, able to
adapt and live in almost any situation from extreme cold to blistering heat.
Like all insects, these creatures have six legs and each leg has three joints.
For the relative size of this tiny creature they can run fast. Scientists who
have dissected these creatures have found that the ant brain contains about
250,000 brain cells as compared to a human being having more than 10,000
MILLION. A colony of say 40,000 ants would equal the brain power of one human
being. Now, the ant has two eyes like us, but much more different in structure.
These two eyes are composed of many smaller eyes we call compound eyes. The ant
has two stomachs, one for holding food gathered to share with others, and one
for its own digestion. Like all insects their body is covered by a hard armor
that is called the exoskeleton. When one observes the ant, you’ll never
find it alone, for all ants live in colonies of families with at least two
generations together. The needs of the ant colony shape every aspect of the
lives of its members. Now keep in mind we Christians believe that God created
all things as the Bible states, and as such everything in existence has meaning
and purpose. King Solomon, a child of God, knew this and took the time to study
these little resilient busy creatures. What he found is some of the most amazing
lessons for God’s highest creation, mankind. Let’s compare and learn the lessons
of the ants. We read again Solomon’s findings,
Prov 6:6-8 (NLT) Take a lesson from the ants, you
lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! 7 Even though they have no
prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor hard all summer,
gathering food for the winter.
Now at the onset,
Solomon’s observation for many years was rejected by some scientists. They said
that ants do not store up food, as Solomon said. However, in time they have
since discovered that the wisdom of Solomon was right. You see in the Middle
East, in the hot dry climate, a particular ant thrives there called the
“Harvester” ant. These tiny insects settle near grain fields, carrying seed
after seed into their colonies private storehouses, where they lay up vast
stores of grain up for the cold barren rainy winter months. This action differs
from ants in colder climates. Solomon noted,
Prov 30:25 (NLT) Ants—they aren’t strong, but
they store up food for the winter.
Studies have
sown that ants are busy and active creatures. Many ants build their colonies
in the soil from just below the surface to a depth of 35 feet. These
underground nests are actual cities several stories high, sometimes 500
times the height of the builders, with vast and complicated rooms and
chambers, supported by pillars and roofs. In these huge rooms they conduct
the various business necessary to care for the needs of the families of ants
living there. Some rooms are nurseries for the young, others are store rooms
for food, and they even have bedrooms for rest for the worker ants. But in
all this, the ant is the object lesson from God for followers of God to take
note of and compare one’s life and existence. So let’s do that. Here’s what
I’ve found that can help us better serve God, in the kingdom of His Son
Jesus Christ…
I. THE ANTS TEACH US ABOUT INDUSTRY, DILIGENCE & HARD WORK
– Of all of God’s little creatures, the ants amazingly perform great
feats of work and labor. They work always as a “team.” Each one has a particular
job to do, and none are idle nor expect others to work and labor for them. How
insightful! In similar ways God expects all of His children to work together
too,
1 Cor 3:9 (NIV) For we are God’s fellow workers;
you are God’s field, God’s building.
Indeed, God expects
all of His children to cooperate and work together to do God’s will. That’s what
a local church and family of God’s children are to be busy at. Yes, teamwork is
essential for growth and advancement; Yet, how often we find this difficult.
Many Christians expect the faithful few to do all the work. Most just like to
come to church, have it neatly cleaned and warmed or cooled. They enjoy hearing
a well prepared sermon, or a practiced choir or ensemble play or sing, and then
happily leave to enjoy another week of being served. Not so the ants. In fact,
any “ant” that refuses to work is either driven out of the colony or destroyed.
In fact, God has something else to say about lazy, non-workers in His kingdom.
2 Th 3:10-12 (NIV) For even when we were with
you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” 11
We hear that some among you are idle. They are not
busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord
Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
God hates lazy
people who life off others labors, while they themselves are non-productive. So
Solomon notes and shares this with us. Indeed, the ants teach “performance.” How
about you my friend are you a worker in God’s kingdom or a slacker and not busy?
Be sure you are a participating member of the great family of God in a local
bible-believing church. Now note a second quality of the ants…
II. THE ANTS TEACH US OF THE NECESSITY OF FRUGALITY, SAVINGS & SHARING
- Ants are thrifty caring creatures, nothing is wasted or abused in use. When
the summer months of harvest are here, they work hard and diligently storing
food for the lean rainy winter season. Christians should take this lesson to
heart. God has made us “stewards” of all we have. Recently a lottery winner was
awarded millions of dollars of winnings. Amazingly the man, already a
millionaire, said he was going to share a tithe of his windfall with his local,
church and others he was closely acquainted with. That was admirable in
principle. Now all of us who are God’s children by faith alone in Jesus Christ,
God has called us into His kingdom or colony to labor for the Master. All that
we have and all that we can earn or accomplish really belongs to God. As such,
the main purpose for our work and even existence is to serve the living God, His
people and advance His kingdom on earth. Once our daily needs are met, the rest
of any wealth really belongs to God and we should be good stewards of using for
His purposes; yet, how paltry many of God’s people are. They give a meager,
often non-systematic giving, to the local church for God’s work. Many churches
struggle along when those who habit the “colony” are living “high off the hog,”
to the detriment of God’s work. Not so the ant. All their labors are for the
colony and for the queen ant who runs it all. It is most important, that
Christians store up treasure, not in earthly wealth but heavenly wealth. Jesus
said,
Mat 6:19-21 (NIV) “Do not store
up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where
thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Now how do we do
this? Simple! We convert our earthly wealth into heavenly wealth by giving and
using it to glorify God and advance His kingdom. As we do this, God converts it
into wealth that will be ours for all eternity. Likewise the “ants” preservation
is not used immediately but for future needs when labor is non-productive. Now
there is a third principle found in lessons from the ants…
III. THE ANTS TEACH US TO WORK WITH PERSEVERANCE & HARMONY – In
observing the ants, one can find that they work together in flawless harmony and
with great perseverance. As young boy, I used to get down on the ground and
watch the ants move a grain of food on their backs to their colonies. If I built
an obstacle, they would quickly find a way around it. No matter how big the
obstacle, they would gain victory over it in time. How insightful. Instead of
giving up, quitting or all doing their own thing, they worked together in
harmony to get that food into the nest at all costs. Would to God, His children
in local churches, would take this lesson to heart. The more we labor at God’s
house and work, the more advance God’s kingdom will make. How sad that when
there is an obstacle or hardship in the work of God, many get disheartened and
quit. Also we often find many wanting to do things their own way, and refusing
to work in harmony with others. Many church fights, and lack of advancement in
the work is due to lack of harmonious participation and perseverance. Jesus once
taught,
Mat 24:13 (NIV) but he who stands firm to the
end will be saved.
He was not talking
about keeping one’s salvation, but being faithful to the task in spite of
hardships or difficulties. All who do will be rewarded generously in the end.
Rev 22:12 (NIV) “Behold, I am coming soon! My
reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
When trouble and
trials come to God’s people and the storm clouds of Satan’s attacks appear, so
many Christians fall down, and away and just quit. How is it with you? Are you
wanting to quit, or cease your labors? Have you already done so? Honestly, are
you happy and fulfilled in doing that? The answer is no because, God made you as
new creature in Christ to work and labor for Him. In so doing you find your
greatest joy and satisfaction in spite of the trials and troubles along the way.
Well, the “ant” never gives up in spite of any obstacles in its path, and it
remains faithful to its duty and work even unto death. Remember my friend, the
Christian’s greatest hope and joy lies beyond the frailty and shortness of this
life. Jesus said,
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