THE CLEVER LITTLE ANT

GREAT LESSONS FROM CONTEMPTABLE CREATURES
“THE CONTEMPTABLE YET CLEVER LITTLE ANT”
(PROVERBS 30: 24-25)

Intro:
There is a verse in the Bible which I have read over and over again. However, recently I think I might have finally understood it. 2Timothy 3: 16 states: “For all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” After years of hearing this passage, and reading it for myself, and quoting it in countless sermons, I think I finally understand. Each and every verse in the Bible is there for a reason. More importantly, each and every verse of the Bible has something to say to us. In Proverbs 30: 24-29, we find a series of verses which will test that theory.
In the text, the Lord is dealing with four small creatures, which are great in wisdom. An ant, rock badger, locus, and a lizard are usually thought of as annoying, troublesome, nasty, and some would say, contemptable. However, here in the book of Proverbs, they are shown in a different light. We see them through the eyes of the one who created them. For while we credit the sayings of Proverbs to Solomon, we need to remember that Solomon was the writer, but the Lord was the oraitor.
For the next four lessons, we want to notice the similarities between the four contemptable, yet wise, creatures of Proverbs 30, and Christians today. If we can learn the lessons which God wants us to learn from this passage, then hopefully we can also be called wise.
The first of these creatures is the tiny ant. In Proverbs 30: 24-25, we are told: “There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.” We see the writer of Proverbs beginning this section by speaking of the tiny ant. Ants are members of the kingdom Animalia, from the phylum Arthropoda. In short, Ants have long been regarded as mere scavengers. However, here Solomon, through the inspiration of God, calls them wise.
Tonight, we want to consider these small, yet wise creatures. We want to learn the lesson which God would have us see from this passage.
Join me as we consider the wisdom of, and the warning to, God’s little ant.

I. THE WISE LITTLE ANT

First, we need to make sure that we understand an important fact that is located in the first half of verse 25. There it says, “The ants are a people not strong.” There is an important lesson which we must see if we are to truly recognize the wisdom of the ant. In point of fact, Ants are extremely strong. They are capable of carrying objects many times their body weight. In scientific studies, there have been certain species of ants which have carried as much as five times their body weight, and have been shown to drag objects as large as 25 times their body weight by themselves.
However, regardless which species you are talking about, there is a point at which their strength gives out. There is always an OBJECT WHICH THEY IN counter which a single ant cannot move.
In Prov 30: 25, Solomon, by the inspiration of God, says that ants are not strong. Though they can drag up to 25 times their body weight, God says they are not strong, yet they are wise. Could it be that they are wise because they see that they are weak on their
own, but with help they can prepare and gather the food they need? Is the lesson for you and I that we need to comprehend our own personal weakness, and seek assistance from those who are around us? Could it be that God wants us to know that there is only so much that we can take alone, but with his help, we can move those obstacles in our path? When you stop and consider the scriptures, time and time again, we see great and powerfully spiritual men needed to admit their weakness. Elijah had to call for help in 1Kings19! Jonah had to call for help from the belly of the great fish in Jonah 2: 1-10! David, a man after God’s own heart, had to ask for forgiveness in Psalms 51: 1! The apostle Paul, who was responsible for thousands finding their way to the cross during the course of his life, had to ask for help in 2Cor 12: 7-9. Why, even Jesus himself called for the Father in heaven in Luke 22: 43. Why would God do this? He makes us strong enough to bear some, why not make us strong enough to bare it all? In my mind, the answer is given in 2Cor 12: 9. There, as he answers the Apostle Paul’s request for the removal of his thorn in the flesh, he says that, “my strength is made perfect in weakness!” We strengthen the name of the Lord through our weakness!
However, the ant is also said to be wise because of his preparation. You see, ants hibernate in the winter, and therefore they have a very small period of time in which they can gather food. They know that both the fall and spring will be very long and therefore they need to make all their preparations before it is too late. They know that the summer will be hot, and the work will be hard, but they know that it is in their best interest to take care of business.
If we hope to be called as wise as the little ant, we must see to our own preparations. Eternity is a long time to think about all the things we should have done. Think about the rich man in Luke 12: 16-20 who failed to make his proper preparations on this side of eternity, and was called a fool for his oversight. Brethren, take time to prepare for that great second coming. According to 2Timothy 4: 8, the Lord gives a crown to those who look forward to his coming with love. The only way you can do that is if you are prepared for that coming! The only way that ants can look forward to the fall and spring is if they have completed all their forging. Make sure that you are ready.

II. THE WARNING TO THE ANTS

The warning is not stated here, but it should go without saying. The ants that are truly wise will be aware of the fact, and will be on the lookout for it. IF you go a type in the word “ANT” into a Google search, you will come up with 70,100,000 results. Out of that number, most deal with the extermination of ants. There is every chemical, compound, and compact known to man to help eliminate the plethora of ants which plague us each and every day.
Folks that is what the world wants to do to the church. Each and every day there is a greater and greater push to leave God behind, and embrace this present world. There is a push to stamp out every trace of God from our society. It reminds me of the way Katie reacts when she sees an ant in the house. It doesn’t matter what the ant is doing, or where it’s is at. She wants her mother to kill it. If it is on the front porch, it must die. If it is in the front yard, miles from the house, it must die. Whether we like it or not, that is where we are heading. We are quickly approaching that time when man is no longer listening to sound doctrine; rather they want us to simply hush.
What we need are Christians who are willing to face this harsh reality, but will not back down. We need those who will rejoice that they are counted worthy to suffer for his name sake! (Acts 5: 40) We need those who will understand the danger, but will press upward to the call of God in Christ Jesus! (Phil 3: 14)
I hadn’t ever considered the true wisdom of an ant until I started preparing this lesson. However, having now a greater understanding of this tiny wise creature of God, I can only hope that my God will bless me with its wisdom.