Sunday Stillness – Are you working or dreaming? – An Ant Lesson
Or maybe it should be are you dreaming of working? This past month as I worked through Proverbs I read one little passage – Proverbs 30-24-38, that took my attention.
Today I will look at Proverbs 30:24-25
Four things on earth are small,
yet they are extremely wise:
Ants are creatures of little strength,
yet they store up their food in the summer;
When reading about Proverbs I learned that most are attributed to Solomon. However this one it says: The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh – an oracle. We don’t know the background of Agur but it can be assumed he was a wise man or prophet.
So small things can be very wise. I think it interesting that today I am writing about the ant – as my kitchen has been invaded by the little beasts. AGAIN. Same as last year. It took us 6 weeks to finally get rid of them. I do hope it is faster this time. YUCK.
But they are industrious little things. Set on task. Going somewhere. Nothing stops them (except Fantastic). And obviously they stored up enough food to last the winter and come back to bother me this spring.
Check out another reference to ants.
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
I noticed it said: Hard worker. I think that is extremely important in this life. To work as hard as we can. Certainly to work at learning as much about God and our relationship as we can.
And Proverbs 28:19 talks about the importance of hard work. Those who just dream about things and don’t put them into practice are wasting precious time.
Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
Tweetable:
What can we learn from the small ant? (tweet this)
The picture today comes from one of the sketches I did for Adam’s Animals by Kimberley Payne – a great resource for homeschoolers and Sunday School teachers. I decided to sketch it again and try my watercolours.
Today is Sunday Stillness!
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Janis is the author of the award winning children’s book, Tadeo Turtle, published by Word Alive Press. Available in Kindle Format, in bookstores, online and from her website. Curriculum available upon request.
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I’m not a fan of ants, either! We have fire ants around our house and they can really bite!! But, they are great little workers. I think I read somewhere that they can carry 5,000 times their body weight!! I’d like to see someone try doing that!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing for hosting your link-up!
Ann,
Oh I don’t like fire ants – they hurt. We have an ant like that in Arizona. Tiniest ant with the biggest bite. Fascinating though – aren’t they?
Blessings,
Janis
The ant is indeed resourceful and hard working. I bought a copy of Kimberley’s book and so enjoyed the artwork you created in the book. 🙂
Wonderful watercolor & book cover! I love the way God uses animals to illustrate desirable traits and other important lessons. Linked up with you at Living Proverbs 31. Thanks for hosting & God bless!
Laurie,
I can’t take credit for the book cover. I did all the sketches inside the book. I love the way that God leads me to see His truth through His Word – even through animals.
Blessings,
Janis
I love the message that lies in the life of an ant. Thank you for sharing this Janis…impeccable timing!
Thank you very much. It blesses me when I read that you are affected by my writing.
Blessings to you,
Janis
Hi Janis! Thanks for the invite! We too have a lot of ants- they are busy indeed! We need to work hard to know God more, but we also have to rest in Him! God bless you! patsy
Patsy,
Great to have you here and great to see your artwork again. Just love it. Yes I agree we need to work to know God better.
Blessings,
Janis
Thanks Janis for sharing and connecting! thanks for that great teaching about the ants!! Blessings.
W/Love,
Tayrina from TGAWrites
Tayrina,
Amazing what we can learn from such tiny creatures, isn’t it?
Blessings,
Janis
I love your watercolors (or as you would type, watercolours?). May the Holy Spirit continue to infuse His creativity in you for all your endeavors. Thanks for hosting, Janis…and I hope it doesn’t take 6 weeks to get rid of this year’s beastly ants!
Mary,
Yes Canadian English does have “u” in places that you don’t. 🙂
Thank you for loving my watercolours. It is hard to put out creative work in front of others, but I am getting braver. And so far we are winning the battle with the ants. Hopefully this year will be a shorter battle.
Blessings,
Janis
Janis, this brings back a fond memory of my little boys saying, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard!” when someone was being lazy . . . They loved God’s six-legged metaphor for industrious perseverance, and, thanks be to God, are all hard workers today. Isn’t God good to give us such picturesque illustrations? Thanks for hosting us today!
Michele,
I love hosting Sunday Stillness as I get to meet such wonderful people. And I am finding more and more pictures in the Word. I like to sketch them in my journal.
Blessings,
Janis
Praising God that you have been blessed to illustrate this book.
I want to work at walking closer and closer to the Lord.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Linda,
I had fun researching the animals to check out pictures for Kimberley’s book. And I too want my walk closer and closer.
Blessings,
Janis
There is opportunity to learn in observing the world God made. His grace is at work in all of creation! Thank you, Janis.
Yes Jason I am learning that. I like taking my camera and getting close-up shots. Some really amazing creatures and plants. Open the eyes of my heart – and my head.
Blessings,
Janis