Ants are among God’s most amazing creations. Here are some facts about ants that I found on the web. Ants are one of the world’s strongest creatures in relation to their size. They can carry from 20-50 times their own weight. [That would be like me weighing 73 kg carrying something that weighed 3,650 kg.] Scout ants leave chemical trails that lead other ants to food. They have two stomachs, one for their own food and one to store food to share. They work as a team to move heavy things. They can live up to 30 years. They plan well for the future by storing up food.

With all those qualities, it is no wonder that God had Solomon use the ants to teach us lessons about not being lazy. If we will obey those lessons, they will Fortify our Families.

Transition

The Bible calls a lazy person a sluggard. From the book of Proverbs we are going to find three things that we must do to keep from being a sluggard.

The first thing we must to do keep from being a sluggard is to …

Define the Sluggard’s Character

  1. What is a sluggard?
    1. A sluggard is a lazy person.
    2. Webster’s Dictionary defines him as “A person habitually lazy, idle and inactive.”
  2. What Bible words describe him?
    1. One Hebrew word is translated sluggard or slothful. This word means sluggish, lazy, or indolent (unwilling to work).
    2. Another Hebrew word is translated slack, slothful or idle. This word means laxness, slackness.
    3. A third Hebrew word is translated slothful but means to relax (Pr 18:9).
      The second thing we must to do keep from being a sluggard is to …

Describe the Sluggard’s Life

  1. What is the sluggard like?
    1. He sleeps more than he needs to. (Proverbs 6:9) How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
    2. He wastes food that God provides. (Proverbs 12:27) The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
    3. He is like a great waster. (Proverbs 18:9) He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
    4. He is bothered by the weather. (Proverbs 20:4) The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
    5. He refuses to work. (Proverbs 21:25) The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
    6. He makes excuses for being lazy. (Proverbs 22:13) The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. (Also Pr 26:13)
    7. He does not take care of what God gives him. (Proverbs 24:30) I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; (31) And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
    8. He just rolls over and keeps sleeping when the alarm awakens him. (Proverbs 26:14) As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
  2. How do sluggards affect others?
    1. They irritate others. (Proverbs 10:26) As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
    2. He thinks he is wiser than those who counsel him. (Proverbs 26:16) The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
  3. What happens to sluggards?
    1. They becomes poor. (Proverbs 10:4) He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
    2. They are always indebted to others. (Proverbs 12:24) The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
    3. They desire things but have nothing. (Proverbs 13:4) The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
    4. Their way is hard and painful. (Proverbs 15:19) The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
    5. They will often be hungry. (Proverbs 19:15) Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
    6. They cause their own hunger. (Proverbs 19:24) A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. (Also Pr 26:15)
      The third thing we must to do keep from being a sluggard is to …

Depart from the Sluggard’s Ways

  1. Watch the ant (Pr 6:6)
    1. God tells us to “go to the ant”. Go find an ant. Once you find an ant, watch it.
    2. God tells us to consider her ways and be wise. We must watch her habits and learn how to be wise in life.
  2. Watch the ants habits (Pr 6:7-8)
    1. She has no guide, overseer or ruler. In other words, she has no director, officer, or ruler telling her what to do. This means that she is self-motivated. She does what needs to be done without being told or pushed.
    2. She provides her food in the summer. She works to get her food. She does not just sit back and expect others to care for her needs.
    3. She gathers her food for winter during the harvest. She plans for the future. She saves up for future needs.
  3. Follow the ant’s example
    These habits of the ant are a lesson for us.

    1. Do not put things off that need to be done. Be self-motivated. When you see something that needs done, do it without waiting for someone to ask you to do it.
    2. Children, you often know what needs to be done. Keep your room neat and clean. Take care of your dirty cloths. Put away your toys and books. Sweep the floor. Get up early so you can read your Bible. Go to bed on time. Look for helpful jobs you can do. Don’t make your parents push you to do things that you know need to be done.
    3. Like the ant, we are to be workers. Keep busy. Use your time wisely. Do your best when you work. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10 God said, “… that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” Work is good for us.
    4. Also like the ant, we need to prepare for the future. Save for future needs. Living on credit is living as a slave. Save up so you can buy food in bulk when it is on special. Don’t waste money on things that are not good for you and do not last. On Saturday evening, prepare your clothes for Sunday and get to bed early so you will be ready for church the next morning. Do the same each day in preparation for school and work. Prepare each day to meet the Lord by reading the Bible, praying, confessing all sin, and staying close to the Lord.

Conclusion

Ants are amazing creatures that teach us not to be sluggards. Whether you are an adult or a child, if you tend to be a lazy sluggard, stop ignoring it and making excuses. Laziness displeases God, irritates others, and will hurt your own life. Admit your wrong to God and ask Him to help you change your ways.

Song: Go to the Ant.
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Don’t Be A Sluggard!
7 February 2016 PM – Pr 6:6-8 – Fortifying the Family – Scott Childs