MEET THE WISE WORKING ANT

Solomon Instructs all those who desire to work "as for the Lord" (Col 3:23)

to go to the ant, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer, or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-11)

 The wisdom books of the Old Testament often draw lessons from the natural order to teach Godly principles. The ant teaches us biblical work ethic. In other words, "Go to the ant!" to learn biblical work ethic. It is no surprise, then, that the ant serves as Solomon's personification of hard work.

ANTS ARE MOTIVATED TO WORK.

Go to the ant, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer, or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-8). An ant, a tiny creature staggering along under a crumb, Solomon wants us to observe that ants are self-motivated and that they work ahead. The motivation to work comes naturally to ants. They work, even without a parent compelling them.

First, he points out that ants have no chief issuing commands; nonetheless, they are always in productive motion. In human armies, when the officers are engaged elsewhere, the recruits lie around, play, and generally stay as far away from work as possible. Although ants have no-one giving orders, no to-do lists, and no one checking up on them, the function like a well-oiled machine. Christian workers are to be self-starters motivated and productive whether they are being supervised or not. Christians primarily serve Jesus rather than humans, they are to be enthusiastic, self-motivated workers!

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men."

(Col 3:23).

Christian students too often, are mindlessly following the path of least resistance.

The New Testament urges us to make God our primary motivation to be an excellent worker. Ephesians 6:6, Paul urged believers to work "not by way of eye service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart." Christian students are to be Christ-serving, God-motivated workers.

ANTS WORK AHEAD.

Go to the ant which prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-8)

Ants do not procrastinate. They do not start a major assignment the night before it is due. Although they have no lecturer, or parent nagging them about a looming deadline, ants faithfully and consistently work many months ahead, preparing food for the winter under the comfort of the summer sun. "The ant continually prepares [ongoing action] food in summer. She has gathered [completed action] her food by harvest." The ants' working ahead and steadily means that the task is finished well before the deadline (change of season). There are no last-minute rushes, no sleep-deprived days. No frantic effort to compensate for laziness because ants consistently work ahead. The value is allowing hard work to be done while there is plenty of time, results in more time with friends because work is consistently done on or ahead of schedule.

Excellent work requires time and reflection, the maturing of ideas and the checking of details. So whenever possible, be committed to avoiding last-minute rushes which is God-honouring. The studying and university work itself-will then be more enjoyable. Working ahead means no unnecessary stress, no sleepless nights. This Gives you time when things go wrong in a sin-cursed world. When work is tackled ahead and at a steady pace, everyday relaxation and fun can be enjoyed (without guilt).

If we live under Jesus Christ, we must work to the Glory of God  as a university student, giving God glory,  doesn’t just look like staying away from the sins while doing  campus life or tagging on “all GLORY be to GOD” at the end of the year when you get favourable results . It also means glorifying the Lord with your university days by living as a person walking with the lord Jesus pursuing holiness as well as working as a university student not just for a degree but for the Lord. How? by working consistently and ahead of schedule. So, this semester lets pray for grace to glorify the Lord with our studies and then get to work with the grace he gives us to work wisely as unto the LORD.