Ants, Marriage, Gratitude, Work, and Potential

You may be wondering what Ants, Marriage, Gratitude, Work, and Potential have to do with each other. If that’s the question you are asking, great question. Let me explain. Notice what Solomon writes in Proverbs in these several verses.

⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
⁷ Which, having no captain,
Overseer or ruler,
⁸ Provides her supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
⁹ How long will you slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?
¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep—
¹¹ So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:6-11)

With these and a few more verses, I can explain the importance of what ants, marriage, gratitude, work, and potential have to do with each other. The remainder of this blog will be divided into four different sections: a section to consider the ant, one for the married couple, another for the single person, and a final section for husbands specifically.

 

Consider the Ant… All of Us

Solomon encourages us to consider the ways of the ant so that we may be wise. What does he point out about the ant? Let me suggest three important observations:

1. The ant works productively without needing someone to stay on top of them. The ant has no need for someone to watch over his or her back to see if he or she is working. Instead, there is an internal motivation to work.

   Why is this important? Because a lazy person can be financially ruined through laziness and irresponsibility. This lazy person disappoints all those around him or her and creates a hard life for them (Prov 10:26), and lacks any motivation for working productively (Prov 19:24; 20:4). In fact, it is interesting how Solomon describes the sluggard or lazy person (some translations call this person lazybones). A sluggard looks for reasons to stay in bed and not work (Prov 26:13-14), refuses to work (Prov 21:25), wants to rest, take a nap, or sleep in rather than be productive (Prov 6:9-10), always wants stuff but cannot afford it – which causes much jealousy (Prov 13:4), is often foolish but thinks he is wise (Prov 26:16), does not work when it is time (Prov 20:4), and his continual longing for what he cannot have alongside laziness kills him (Prov 21:25). (The term sluggard is used for the lazy man 14 times in the Hebrew Bible in these locations: Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:26; 13:4; 15:19; 19:24; 20:4; 21:25-26; 22:13; 24:30-34; 26:13-16.)

2. The ant considers the future. The ant realizes that winter comes. The winter has its own set of needs. When under harsh conditions and minimal provisions, the ant understands intuitively that something needs to be done to prepare for those times. The lesson here from the ant is to consider what will be needed in the future. Whereas, the lazy person may not consider the future at all or after considering the future choose to do nothing today about it.
3. The ant provides in light of future need. Building off the last point, the ant gets busy. There needs to be a time of harvest so that when winter comes, there are provisions for the winter. In this way, an ant is very similar to a bee. The bee works hard all summer making honey which will sustain the colony throughout the winter. Like both the ant and bee, the wise person plans and works today. The awareness of the future need produces action right now.
4. The ant puts off a temporary pleasure today for a more important pleasure in the future. Fascinating enough, putting off today’s pleasure for a more important pleasure in the future actually builds pleasure today. See how that works. Today, the wise person works hard because of tomorrow’s needs. As he or she does, the wise person performs hard tasks, says no to some immediate pleasures, and remains diligent. All the while, even when doing hard tasks, builds pleasure for today as well. The thought of being prepared for the future helps build pleasure today.

 

For the Married Couple Who Are Hardworking

If you are married to a hardworking person, be full of gratitude. Over years of marital counseling, I have pitied the person who is married to someone lazy. As Solomon says, life is hard for those around the lazy person. For this person and those around him or her, life is like a hedge of thorns. Yet, for the diligent, wise, hardworking person, life is like a highway.

Therefore, if you are married to a wise, hardworking person, then be grateful. I know that I am. My wife diligently keeps house and home moving forward in light of the future needs. She often thinks of things that I miss, have not considered, or of which I am unaware. Yet, she considers and plans accordingly. What a blessing in this way.

If you are a lazy married person, then repent and change. For any of us who are lazy, we make life harder for everyone else.

 

For the Unmarried Single Person

If you are an unmarried single person, then pay close attention to everyone you date. If that person tends lazy, run away. You do not want the complications of laziness in your future life together. You may be thinking, how can you know?

Let me suggest four ways:

1) Pay attention to what he or she says. Does he or she always want a day off, complain about hard work, or want to take a break?

2) Pay attention to how he or she uses spare time. Does he or she think ahead and use it for something productive or just blow it? Is life about games, movies, and entertainment only or is there diligence to think ahead, take time to plan, and work the plan?

3) Pay attention to how he or she uses work time. When the person is supposed to be working, does anyone need to watch them, keep them motivated, or keep them working?

4) Pay attention to how the person uses his or her money. Does his or her use of money demonstrate an awareness of the future or is it all about today? Does this person want others to provide? Is the person always wanting to win the lottery, get a big gift, or for someone else to help them strike it rich? Is this person always wanting what others have?

For the single lady, if the young man is still in school or early in employment, is he doing his best to be his best in the future as well? Is he planning well? Does he put his time and effort into education, learning his vocation, or planning ahead?

 

For the Husband or Man

Praise God if you are married to a productive woman. In my experience, most women are more productive than men. However, men often do some of the harder tasks like construction. Each doing what they can to help the family move forward. Again, praise God for productive husbands and wives.

But what about you? How do you do in your own family? Are you constructive? Busy? Forward thinking? Productive?

Does your wife have to try to motivate you to work hard, do what is right, get up and get around, get off a video game, say no to watching a movie, etc.?

Do you work hard, plan hard, and save hard to help provide for the current needs and future needs of your wife and family?

Are you planning for retirement?

 

Oh, Mr. Ant…

There’s lots to consider here. We need to rejoice in the opportunities before us, work hard today, plan for the future, and then rejoice that God gives us the strength and ability today to do it. In the process, may God receive the glory in our wise use of today.