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We started the ABC I Believe curriculum in September, two months before my son's Third Birthday. The first lesson was the ANT and the verse from today. Ten months later he still recalls the verse and the whole lesson.
Proverbs 9:1-2 - Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table
Proverbs 6:6-11 - Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Observations:
1. Proverbs 9:1-2 - It is important to build on wisdom. Seven Pillars providing stability. It involves preparations and then setting everything in order.
2. Proverbs 6:6-11
a. one way to be wise is to observe the ants
b. they don't have a guide or ruler telling them to do their work. They just do it.
c. they don't take summers off - they work in summer so they can gather in harvest
d. sleep leads to poverty
Applications: In the May 21, 2012 post, I wrote about the possible seven pillars mentioned in Proverbs 9:1-2. As for Proverbs 6:6-11, I am learning that it is step by step. The ants just keep going forward carrying their food, carrying one piece of dirt at a time. Diligence does not mean we get it all done in one day. I was reminded this weekend of the important of looking to the future and not just day after day of what was accomplished. We can become discouraged if we think everything has to be instantly done.
One way that I am idle and not like the ants is that I start things I don't finish. I start projects, crafts, binders for preschool, Bible studies and many other things that sometimes I start and then stop. I then do it years later as I had to many things started. I am reminded in Proverbs 14:23 that we should do what we say we are going to do rather than just talk about doing it.
I am also realizing the importance of preparation. The Ants don't just wait until winter harvest and say "let's get to work". They work all summer. Many times, I want to accomplish everything all at once. I play all at once. Then I want to work all at once. Instead of step by step preparations. For me, I love to camp in the Summer but then Winter comes and we didn't do many things that are needed in the Summer. Many times I see house projects and I get overwhelmed. We need new cabinets, new counter tops, new roof, bathroom walls falling in, shower area is duct taped, sidewalk falling apart, basement floor not finished, walls need insulation, things need painting, windows need replacing, attic needs help and the list goes on. This is just our house and not my Mom's house that we take care of and our rental property. It is important to lay out the preparations and do each step by step as we saved money and work toward each project.
These projects lead me to my next issue that I learn from the ants. My husband has wanted "barn raising" in our community where people gather and redo our roof. Then we go to their house and do a project. We all pitch in serving where we can. Some may be good at roofs while others can clean up the mess and make food for the workers. Some of us can take care of the children and go buy supplies if we run out. The ants live in a community. They are communal workers. They each have a job to do it and they do it for all the other ants. I, on the other hand try to accomplish everything on my own. I tend to have an independent mindset rather than how can we accomplish this together.
I could write on and on about observing the ants like the army ants who fight the common enemy. My son likes army ants. I could talk about how ants can lift way more than their size. I could write about their not giving up even though they can only take a grain of sand at a time to build their colony. What about the oldest ants sent to battle while the young ones stay home to take care of food and the young babies?
Many times I give in to hopelessness and despair when I don't see everything done. Many times I forget to wait on the Lord and just keep doing what I know He told me to do one step at a time.
Prayer: Lord thank you that you want us to be diligent like the ants rather than like sluggards. Thank you that you are our strength. Lord, I pray I finish the tasks you give and that I learn to love being with others as we accomplish your work together.
