The ant is mentioned only two times in the Bible. Both references are found in the book of Proverbs (Prov. 6:6; 30:25). This small creature, and, its seemingly insignificant mention in Scripture, however, provide gigantic lessons for human beings.
The wise Solomon presents the ant to the sluggard in Proverbs 6:6-8. He writes: “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.” The sluggard is the “sluggish” and “lazy” individual. Other words used to describe the sluggard are slouch, indolent, bum, loafer, good-for-nothing, slug, and couch-potato. The sluggard can learn much from an insect that can be a pest to human beings. Solomon counsels the sluggard to consider the ant’s ways, “and be wise.”
First, he notes that the ant does not have to be supervised. He has no guide, overseer, or ruler. The ant is self-motivated. He does not have to be told what to do. He does not have to have his actions monitored by a manager. He does not have to be held accountable by someone higher up. In our society today, there are many people who are not “self-propelled.” They have to be told what to do. They have to have someone constantly prodding them along to get something done. If they are not told precisely what to do, they will do nothing. When Paul addressed Christians who were slaves in the first century, he exhorted them not to be “menpleasers,” that is, those who worked only when strictly supervised. Here are his instructions: “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: and whatsoever ye do, to it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:22-24). All Christians should work heartily in every service they render. It should not matter whether they are supervised or not. They know that they are working for another who is higher up the hierarchal structure than their boss. They are working for Jesus Christ.
Second, the ant works hard. Solomon uses two words to describe the ant’s labors, “provideth” and “gathereth.” Most of us have seen ants hard at work. They are constantly “on the go.” They do not take a break. They do not sleep on the couch for hours at a time. They do not sleep in. They provide and gather. This is how all Christians should work. There are several illustrations of hard workers in the Bible. Jacob worked hard for Laban. He reviewed his years of work for his father-in-law in Genesis 31:38-41. “This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. Thus, have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed by wages ten times.” As we read these words, we feel the burden of Jacob’s work. It was difficult. It was sacrificial. It was unfair. Yet, none of these deterred him. He always put forth the necessary effort that made him a valuable employee. We should all try to resemble Jacob in our labors. Even when our work is hard and our boss is unreasonable and inequitable, we need to keep putting our best foot forward.
Third, the ant does not have to rely on others for support. The ant provides “her meat.” The ant provides “her food.” She does not have to have someone else provide for her. She does not feel entitled to the profits of another. She does not believe that others owe her something. One of the things the Bible stresses is self-sufficiency. Paul taught this to the church in Thessalonica. “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing”(I Thess. 4:11-12). In his second letter to this same church, he continued to exhort them to provide for themselves. “For even when were with you, this we commanded you, that is any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work and eat their own bread” (II Thess. 3:10-12). Paul did not just preach these words. He practiced what he preached. In I Thessalonians 2:9, he reminded the church of his labors among them. “For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.” All Christians need to take responsibility for caring for themselves. God does not authorize those who are strong and healthy to be partakers of welfare. No, he teaches the strong and healthy to work and support themselves.
An ant is a very little creature. However, he is able to teach us profound lessons. He teaches us to work unsupervised. He teaches us to labor diligently. He teaches us to be self-sufficient. Our present society needs a good dose of the “ant work ethic.” May we as Christians never be grouped among the sluggards of the world. May all who know us compliment us for working as hard as an ant.