Go To The Ant

May 25

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?” Proverbs 6:6-9

Ants may be an annoyance at a picnic, because they tend to crawl over our food but the aggravation we feel at their presence might also be because of the fact that their industry puts ours to shame.

These tiny creatures set about tasks that are beyond human ability to perform. Those who study the science of entomology tell us that ants are able to carry up to three times their own weight. No wonder we must guard our picnic table!

But their God-given attributes of strength and industry are those that the immutable Word of God admonishes that we emulate. Whether or not we possess great physical strength, we are told that it is imperative that we be, “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might,” Ephesians 6:10.

The chapter goes on to admonish that we “…put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against… that evil day,” Ephesians 6:11-13.

Paul is very clear in his letter to the Ephesians that the evil one is the ultimate source of whatever dilemma we face and it is he against whom we must direct our spiritual energy in order to attain victory.

Our diligent industry in confronting the machinations of the enemy of our soul is stated succinctly in Ephesians 6:11-18 where Paul says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

“Therefore take to yourself the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done everything you can, you will stand firm in faith.

”Hold fast to truth and wear the breastplate of righteousness; let your feet be shod with the Gospel and above all, hold fast to the shield of faith which you can use to deflect all the fiery arrows of the enemy!

“Pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watch by the power of the Holy Spirit with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…”

While we are to emulate the ant for its industry, we are clearly told in Ephesians 6 that our strength is to be in the Lord. It is by the power of His Holy Spirit that we shall overcome any and all things that come against us; it is by His might that we shall be able to pray in power for those of like precious faith at the point of their need.

When we encounter those little creatures, rather than be annoyed, let us be inspired to pray resolutely with the power that He has given to us (see Romans 8:11) and to receive with thanksgiving (see Philippians 4:6) the gifts of the Spirit that are ours.