“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.” Proverbs 6:6 (ESV).
Be active
The ants build their anthill in the best possible way to stay warm. As soon as the sun rises, the ants start to work. All the paths of the ants lead to the anthill; every ant works as much as it can. If a stick is too big for one ant, others will come and help carry it to the anthill.
Idleness leads to laziness, and laziness leads to lack. Look at how the ants work. First the natural, then the spiritual. “Without having any chief officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” Proverbs 6:7-8 (ESV).
Work hard
It is blessed to work with your hands and to work in the spirit. There is lots of food in the unplanted lands of the poor. The foolish virgins begged for oil from the wise virgins. That is the fate of those who are lazy. They end up begging. The foolish virgins did not gather oil in their vessels. They were lazy. It takes effort to gather food, naturally speaking, and just as much effort is needed to gather spiritual food. For the lazy person, work feels like a strong enemy; it feels like a curse that is impossible to overcome—and that is a terrible mindset!
At our meetings, there are also people who spiritually speaking never have anything to give. They only want to receive. They simply open their mouths like baby birds, expecting others to feed them. This is natural at first when someone is still a spiritual baby; but if that is still the case by the time that a person should be able to teach others, it is improper.
The anthill and the temple
In the church, all paths also lead to the “anthill”—that is, to the spiritual temple that is being built; for we are being built together with others into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit (Ephesians 2:22). Let all things be done for edification. Be active in building up the kingdom of God. If a “stick” is too heavy for your brother, then go and help him carry it. Not everybody is a minister of the Word, but everybody can be a servant of God when the temple should be built. We have no ruler, officer or chief, just as the ants don’t have them, and still the work is carried out quickly. All build according to an inner drive and motivation. That is how it should be.
“How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” Proverbs 6:9-11 (ESV).