Go to the Ant, Thou Sluggard Prov 6: 6-11 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

There is an awful lot of laziness in Christianity these days and so we need a good lesson from the ant to get out of this lethargy.  Christians seem satisfied to sit on their behinds and be entertained these days.  You need to get up out of the easy chair, the recliner, the pew, the couch (potato) and get going for God – you only have a little time left – the constant cry and plea of the missionaries and pastors is, “Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.”  Let’s get with it.  Unplug the TV, recycle the magazines, turn off the computer (all that surfing is bad for your eyes), take the family out with a pocket full of tracts and go tell someone about Jesus.  Get in the kitchen, cook up a good meal and invite your neighbors for a meal and a chance to hear about the Lord.  Head down to the church and tell your pastor that you are reporting for duty (whatever he has for you to do that will be a help in the ministry).  Mow your own lawn and give the savings to missions.  Help your neighbor with a job and use it to open a gospel preaching opportunity.  Get with folks in the church and lend someone a helping hand.  Find all the time stealers, get organized and do something to please God that will fair you well at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Now what are you going to learn from a little ole ant?

The ant gets done what it does – v.7:

Without a Guide – Rom 8:14; Jn 16:13 yet you have the Holy Spirit to guide you

Without an Overseer – 1 Pet 5:2 yet you have a pastor who oversees you

Without a Ruler – Heb 13:7, 17, 24 yet you are under authorities (God, Jesus, Word, and Pastor)

She provides her meat – v.8 – meat is typical of the words of God Heb 5:12-14 (are you providing yours through Bible Study and reading or are you depending solely on someone else to do your providing for you)

She gathers in harvest – v.8 – Matt 9:37 the harvest is plenteous BUT the laborers are few – so, what are you doing in the Lord’s harvest?

While the ant works you sleep – v.9-10 – Rom 13:11-14; Eph 5:14-18– it just takes a little too much sleep to do a tremendous amount of damage – get to bed early wake up early and read to pray and read – then go to work

Therefore you’re impoverished – as a traveler (hobo; prodigal; homeless; beggar) and as an armed man (robs to get what he needs but often has little because the thief doesn’t store up and doesn’t work, he only goes out when he is ready for his next fix).