Consider the Ant

Consider the Ant
Brad Reiches
Jul 18 2006 11:00PM

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I am currently on vacation until July 27th and therefore unavailable for e-correnspondence.

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Wednesday, July 19, 2006
A GodThoughts Classic!

"Consider the ANT"

"The ants are not a strong folk,

But they prepare their food in the summer...

And gather their provision in the harvest."

Proverbs 30: 25; 6: 8

Consider the ANT.

Amazing!  In the Bible's greatest book on wisdom, Proverbs, one of wisdom's greatest models of success...is  the ANT.  Here are some GodThoughts:

#1.  Ants are always PREPARED.  To think is to become.  Knowing what we want is the first step.  Then we must become.  The first link  between desire and achievement...is preparation.  It is preparation that enables success when opportunity arises.  I believe that opportunity knocks on everyone's door.  The successful are those who have prepared for her arrival.

Ants have successful winters...because their summers are filled with preparation.

#2.  The amount of PROVISION is determined by the amount of PREPARATION.  He would harvest much, must plant much(see Matthew 25: 14-29).  She who would reap much, must sew much(see Galatians 6: 7).  Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was it destroyed in a day.  How much do ants prepare?...AS MUCH AS THEY CAN!

#3.  Ants gather as much as they can.  Consider the teachings of Jesus on "ambition:"

Whoever wishes to be first among you,

must be slave of all.

Mark 10: 44

God doesn't condemn ambition.  Biblically, "ambition" is a neutral term.  It can be bad, as in the case of selfish desire or greed(see Philippians 2: 3-4; Colossians 3: 5),  but it can also be good.  Jesus exemplifies this by encouraging those with the greatest ambition for the kingdom of God, to become servants of all.

#4.  ANTS never quit.  The only way to stop an ant...is to squish 'em(I speak here by way of illustration only.   I am not condoning "ant-squishing").  Otherwise, the ant will always find a way.  They'll go over, under, or around.  They'll climb if they have to; they'll dig if necessary.  How long will an ANT look for a way?  As long as it takes.

Yes...Consider the ANT.

Go to the ANT, O sluggard,

Observe her ways and be wise.

Proverbs 6: 6