“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?
 A little sleep, a little slumber,
 A little folding of the hands to sleep— 
 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
 And your need like an armed man.”
(Proverbs 6:6-11)

Proverbs has a lot to say about sleep, or more particularly, laziness, but is it just good advice for people who want to get on? No. The Scripture is primarily concerned with our spiritual life, so the ants have something to teach us of real spiritual value and significance. But what?

The ant, we are told, has no ruler compelling obedience or organising her to work, but nevertheless she “provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest”.  God has given the ant some knowledge of the seasons and the motivation to do what is necessary, even though it requires much work.

Why must the sluggard go to the ant? To gain wisdom.  God is looking for something from him that he does not expect from the ant. A man is neither forced nor compelled by mere instinct – God wants him to choose how he lives.  But why has the sluggard not already chosen wisely? The insurmountable obstacle before him is getting out of bed.  The body is demanding its way and getting its way, and we are told that his lack of discipline will lead to certain poverty.

In our day, many Christians seem to feel that they can yield to all the body’s demands and somehow still live a rich and full spiritual life.  Or perhaps they feel that to practice a little discipline would so disadvantage them that not even God could make up the loss.  Either way they are very wrong.

Discipline, like training, involves sacrifices today for tomorrow’s good.  We see that discipline demonstrated constantly by athletes, musicians, scholars and more.  That same discipline is necessary in a life that desires to grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What should a Christian do? Learn from the ants. Make the necessary choices to order your day (and your night) so that you have time to absorb the Scripture and time to listen to God. In this way you will certainly increase in wisdom and usefulness.  Exercise self-control (that is, don’t let other things control you) and you will soon know more of the riches of God’s grace towards you. You will not only be well fed, but you will also have much to share with others. 

“Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.“
(Proverbs 20:13)