TREASURES FROM GOD'S WORD, Week of March 24 to 30, 2025, What do we learn from ants?, Prepared Speech.

TREASURES FROM GOD'S WORD, March 24-30, 2025, What do we learn from ants?, Prepared Speech.

What do we learn from ants? (10 min.)

If we observe ants, we will learn very valuable lessons.

LET'S READ PROVERBS 6:6

Come on, you lazy one, approach the ant; Observe their behavior and become wise.

How interesting this part is, because indeed, from the proverb itself we can see that people who do not work much, because they are lazy or find it difficult to move, not because of weight or some illness, but rather because they are lazy, are told in the proverb to approach the ant. Proverb 6:6 goes on to say, "Observe their behavior and become wise."

How important this is, because ants actually have very interesting things that they can teach us, such as their constant work. They, together, well organized, carry food for the colony and, in addition, preserve food for the seasons when there is no food. That's why the Bible, in the proverb, says: "Observe their behavior and become wise." So, indeed, with ants we can learn very important lessons.

Although no one rules them, they are created to work hard, help each other, and gather what they need for the future

And that is a wonderful thing: gathering what is needed for the future.

LET'S READ PROVERBS 6:7, 8

Although it has no commander or officer or ruler, 8 it prepares its food in the summer and supplies itself with food during the harvest.

How interesting this part is in relation to this work that the little ants do. Let's look at two characteristics of them: instinctive wisdom and exemplary characteristics. 

Instinctive wisdom. Naturally, the wisdom of ants does not come from intelligent reasoning, but is the fruit of the instinct with which the Creator has endowed them. The Bible says that the ant prepares its food in the summer and gathers its supply in the harvest.

One of the most common species found in Palestine is the forager ant, which stores grain in abundance during the spring and summer, and then uses it in the other seasons, such as winter, when it becomes difficult to obtain food. This ant is usually found near areas where there are many seeds and grains. If rain wets the stored seeds, the harvester ant takes them out into the sun to dry. It also cuts the seed embryo with its jaws so that it does not germinate while it is stored. Harvester ant colonies are distinguished by the paths they trace, as well as the seed husks they leave outside the entrance.

How interesting is how this little ant does this. Although he has no intelligence, the Creator has indeed endowed him with a wonderful instinct. Because, how is it possible that, if the seed gets wet, they take it out in the sun to dry? Or if it still has some embryo membrane, cut it off so that it does not grow inside the anthill. That is a wonderful thing, brothers, from which we can learn a lot.

Exemplary characteristics. A brief investigation of the ant lends further credence to the exhortation: "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider his ways and become wise." He is not only distinguished by his instinctive foresight, but also by his perseverance and determination, as he often carries or drags with great tenacity objects whose weight is double or triple his own, and he does everything possible to complete his task, never turning back, even if he falls or slips down a steep slope. She is amazingly cooperative, keeps the anthill very clean and takes an interest in her companions, sometimes helping those who have been injured or exhausted return to the anthill.

How wonderful is this, right? We can learn from them, because we actually have to be industrious, we have to be people who carry out activities to be able to support ourselves. But, sometimes, as it says there, we are lazy. And when we see this example of the ants, that is why Proverb 6:6 says to become wise and watch their ways, because watching the little ants is a very great thing.

Being like ants is good for us

LET'S READ PROVERBS 6:9-11

You lazy person, how long are you going to stay lying there? When will you wake up from sleep? 10A little sleep, a little nap, resting for a little while with your hands crossed..., 11 and your poverty will come like a criminal, and your misery, like an armed man.

How interesting is this part of the proverb, because that is indeed what happens to us, right? We say: "Well, for a little while, it's a little dream, it's a little nap." And indeed, by not being productive, when we want what we need to live, we don't have it. Indeed, shouldn't we also be industrious like the ant? Working hard and trying to improve the quality of our work benefits us, whether we are supervised or not.

Whether in school, in our workplace, or when participating in spiritual activities, we should do everything to the best of our ability, just as the ant benefits from its industriousness. God wants us to see the good in all our hard work. A clear conscience and personal satisfaction are the rewards of hard work. And how interesting it is how this insect teaches us that.

Solomon uses two rhetorical questions to awaken the sluggard from his indolence: "How long, O sluggard, will you lie down? When will you rise from your sleep?" Imitating his way of speaking, the king adds: "A little more sleep, a little more dozing, a little more folding your hands while lying down, and your poverty will certainly come, just like some vagabond or some thief, and your want like an armed man." That's right, while the lazy person is lying down, poverty takes hold of him with the swiftness of a raider, and scarcity attacks him as an armed man would.

The sloth's fields soon become overgrown with weeds and nettles. It doesn't take long for their business ventures to suffer setbacks. How long will your employer tolerate a bum? Can the lazy student expect to succeed in school? Well no, right? Because for all these activities, what is needed is someone who is fruitful, someone who carries out his activities properly. So what we have learned from the ant, my dear brothers, indeed the example of the ant, seeing its way of working and its way of organizing itself for the future, makes us think that we can do that and more to praise our God Jehovah.