#543 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – A Just God Judges Our Service

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christians are to labor laboriously not only so the Lord will remember and honor our work for Him, but also because our works for the Lord will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  This judgment does not determine whether someone is going to Heaven or Hell; this is for Christians only, those who have accepted Christ as personal Savior.  Those who have not accepted Him are bound for eternal separation from God and will be judged solely on whether they accepted or rejected Jesus Christ as personal Savior.  It is necessary that the service of all born-again Christians be analyzed and evaluated with the Judgment Seat of Christ being God’s appraisal of Christians’ works and service for Him in this life, determining reward or loss of reward.  No works in this life for God will receive no reward when judged by our righteous God.  It should be our desire to please and honor the Lord in such a way that He will be pleased to present a reward to us.  Our greatest reward will be spending eternity with Him in Heaven, thus we should have a desire to have a thirst for the things of the Lord and a thirst for industriousness in serving the Lord, knowing that we are honoring and glorifying Him.

As a Christian, are you ready to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ as your service for Him is evaluated?

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”  (II Corinthians 5:10 – ESV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#542 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – A Just God Remembers Our Service

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

How can it be said that working laboriously in service for the Lord is so important?  God’s Word reveals reasons that should make us think twice before yielding to idleness or laziness.  From a positive standpoint God has promised that our work in serving Him will be remembered and honored, and God being just and righteous means He cannot fail to fulfill His promises.  Failing to remember and honor our service for Him would make Him unjust and unrighteous, and we know that God is not unjust or unrighteous.  Our work for Him, including witnessing for Him and performing deeds of love toward fellow believers should be done in His name, giving Him the honor and glory.  Performing the deeds of love toward fellow believers should be driven by pure love for our Christian brothers and sisters in Christ, knowing there is no hope for reciprocal action from them.  The fact that God is righteous, remembering and honoring our service for Him, should give us an even stronger desire to be diligent about His service.

As a Christian, show the love toward your fellow Christians that God has shown toward you!

“God is not unjust:  He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.”  (Hebrews 6:10 – NIV)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#540 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – A Nature of Integrity

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

With the attitude of initiative the ants have comes a nature of integrity.  Although they seem to have no organizational structure, ants will work together to the best good of the whole ant community.  With the responsibility they take upon themselves, they need no outside accountability to keep them doing right.  They work quietly and faithfully without show.  Nonbelievers observe Christians to see if their lives are ones of integrity and honesty.  Spiritually, a part of integrity is being openly honest without compromise or corruption.  After Job’s first test, Jesus told Satan how Job “still maintains his integrity, being blameless and upright, fearing God, and shunning evil.”  Christians of integrity can be expected to work faithfully to carry out God’s will in the fear and respect of the Lord; not looking for glory and recognition but giving Him all the glory, honor, and praise with a desire to expand God’s kingdom here on earth.

As you do your daily work, do so with the integrity Job showed, honoring God and being a Christian example to those around you!

“And the LORD said unto Satan, ‘Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? And still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” (Job 2:3)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#539 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – An Attitude of Initiative

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Having given the commands to the sluggard to go to and consider the ants, and to be wise, the lessons begin by describing the ants’ attitude of initiative.  This is illustrated by an initial description of the ants as having no “leader” to tell them to get started.  Although other insects and animals have been shown to have a leader, nearly every study on the habits of ants has revealed no discernable leader or known organizational structure.  They carry out life’s work without being forced to do so by other ants in charge.  The Christian walk and steps to spiritual maturity have simple guidelines such as daily reading God’s Word, praying, and telling others about Christ; yet, we as Christians often fail to follow these disciplines unless we are lead by someone else, whether it is our pastor or teacher or even an encourager.  The initiative of ants, as well as our love of God, should encourage us to practice the Christian walk without being forced to do so by anyone else. 

Do you faithfully practice spiritual disciplines, or do you need someone constantly reminding and forcing you to do so?

Solomon describes the ant’s initiative:

“Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,” (Proverbs 6:7)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#538 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – Commands to Learn

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Through the inspired writings of Solomon, the sluggard is given three commands, the first of which is to “go to the ant.”  The sluggard, as one who has taken no initiative to learn on his own, is now commanded to go to school and learn from the remarkable little creature.  Sadly, many Christians take no initiative to learn the ways of the Lord, how to walk the Christian walk, or mature spiritually.  It is then that God calls them to learn wisdom from the smallest of God’s creatures.  The second command given is to “consider her ways.”  The ways of ants can teach what needs to be learned, and it is always wise to follow someone or something that teaches us good habits.  The third command given is to “be wise.”  The aim of learning is not only to know, but to be wise.  We often study, read, and search so we can have knowledge, but knowledge alone is not wisdom.  Spiritually, we need to apply the knowledge and experience to live skillfully in following God’s way, learning to live life in preparation for the next life. We must give glory to the God of nature for the “wisdom” of animals, but we also must learn from them.   

As you study, pray, and learn God’s Word, always take the initiative to apply the principles learned to your daily walk with the Lord! 

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves:  be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”  (Matthew 10:16)

May God Richly Bless You Today

#537 Lessons from Ants (Proverbs 6:6-8) – The Wise

Good Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Sluggards are given the example of ants so they may become “wise.”  To be “wise” refers to “wisdom,” the main theme of Proverbs, meaning experience and shrewdness.  It is used of the skill and shrewdness of workers in their areas of expertise, being knowledgeable, experienced and efficient, therefore “wise.”  Spiritually speaking, “wisdom” is possessed by one who is both knowledgeable and experienced in following God’s way, the art of successful living.  This is being able to cope with life in a God-honoring way, having the knowledge and ability to make the right choices at the right time, being spiritually mature and developed.  A part of this is living this life in preparation for the next life, allowing wisdom to lead in the path to living forever with God.  While the sluggard is lazy, the wise recognizes that time is limited with those who are spiritually wise remaining diligent in doing good and encouraging others to do likewise.

Be wise, redeem the time God has given by serving and living for Him!

“I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day:  the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4)

May God Richly Bless You Today