Lessons from an Ant Farm

Introduction:

· General Revelation: we learn something of God, humanity, from the world around us.

· “Go, consider, be wise” – you have a problem, learn a lesson from nature, fix it!

WE’LL LOOK AT THE ANTS – BUT BEFORE WE CAN DO THAT, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE LAZY PERSON – IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT’S WRONG WITH US.

I) Lesson One: Lessons About Lazybones

A. Who is the Lazybones?

i. The Lazybones isn’t poor…

1. A distinction: we often make the mistake of lumping poor/lazy together

2. Not materially poor (Whom we ARE to care for)

ii. The Lazybones isn’t having a day off, but is defined by unwillingness to work

1. We make the mistake of feeling guilty for rest

2. But no: not action but identity: Defined AS a lazy person

B. What’s Wrong with the Lazybones? (scripture to interpret scripture!)

i. The Lazybones craves the fruit but isn’t willing to work for it (Prov. 13:4)

Proverbs 13:4 ESV

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

1. Harvest & no work, hands buried in the dish, (vs. 7-8, Prov. 19:24, Prov. 20:4)

Proverbs 19:24 ESV

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.

Proverbs 20:4 ESV

The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

2. Sports, to Business: What you see (success) and what you don’t (work)

ii. The Lazybones makes excuses that end in poverty (vs. 10, Prov. 22:13)

Proverbs 22:13 ESV

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”

1. From lions in the street, to “a little” folding of hands…EXCUSES!

2. EXAMPLES: We procrastinate/make excuses,neglect what we need to do

IT’S FOR THAT REASON THAT PROVERBS TELLS US TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE ANT.

II) Lesson Two: Lessons from the Ant Farm

A. Ants Teach us That We Are Created for Work

i. Lessons about Ants

1. Most ants are female, tasks: guarding the colony, finding food

2. Ants stand out as very hard workers (bridges etc.)

ii. Ants teach us the value of motivated work (vv. 7-8)

1. Ants aren’t motivated by a boss, but for a purpose: winter is coming

2. Is work “for self-fulfillment?” (good, but new idea…so what?

iii. We are created to work

1. The biblical purpose of work: Work as a means of loving your neighbor

2. EXAMPLE: “Give us this day…” and how does God meet this need?

3. A motive: not pleasing a boss, but participating in God’s work

B. Ants Teach us That We Are Redeemed for Work

i. Ants work for a greater purpose

1. Ants use antennas to search for food (ingenious technology!)

2. the ant is motivated by something internal, a purpose from within

ii. We long for greater purpose in work

1. Laziness = hopeless work

2. Work hard, make a lot of money, climb the ladder… and then what?

3. EXAMPLE: About Schmidt: Retirement…then what?

ii. Redemption points us to greater purpose in work (1 Cor. 15:58)

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

4. EXAMPLE: Christian in the workplace? “Closer to God’s Kingdom”?

5. The resurrection of Jesus inaugurates a kingdom -- we are participants in this; therefore, we work with hope!

Transition:

Conclusion

The Ant Farm & The Lord’s Supper