By Pastor Murray
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) NKJV
As I read these verses this morning, I thought of the time we are spending at present in lockdown. What are we doing with our time?
We are invited here to consider the ant. “No insect is more laborious, not even the bee itself; and none is more fondly attached to or more careful of its young, than the ant.” (Clarke).
The ant is wise and is worth imitating. She works hard without having to be told to work hard. She is self-motivated – the ethic of diligence comes from within and does not have to be imposed by a captain, overseer or ruler.
The ant works hard when there is work to be done. In the summer and in the harvest the work gets done.
Even in the lockdown, let us follow the example of the ant, consider her ways and be wise
For some this lockdown is more difficult than it is for others. Some are stranded far from home; some have no home; some are alone; some are spending more time in the company of those with whom they have a difficult relationship; some have children who are also frustrated at their inability to get out to spend time in playgrounds, or time with their friends; some do not have the food they need, or they are cold and winter is coming.
Others are concerned about their businesses and the loss of trade, and they are concerned for the wellbeing of their staff. They are not sure whether their businesses will survive or be gone forever.
Let us not be slothful with our time but remember those who are less fortunate than we are, let us pray for them and for those who are ministering to them and assist as we can.
Others are quite happy in the lockdown. They have a comfortable home, surrounded by one or more loving family members with plenty of provisions and access to the internet. They have nobody to see, nowhere to go and they can sit back and relax.
What is God saying to us here?
Check out verse 9: Don’t be like the sluggard – “an habitually lazy person”. Get out of bed, get off the couch and seek the Lord.
Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. (Proverbs 20:13)
Use your time wisely. It would be really easy to spend a lot of time in bed, on the couch watching television. God is encouraging us to use the time wisely. Let us spend more time reading His Word, more time in His presence, worshiping Him and allowing Him to speak to us. Seek the Lord and ask Him what He would have you to do, what He would have you to read, who He would have you to call and encourage.
Don’t waste the time the Lord has given you – any minute wasted can never be recovered.
May God’s richest blessings be with you, with those in your bubble and with those you would like to have in your bubble