"Go the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise. "{Proverbs 6:6} Solomon said we could learn some valuable lessons from the ant. Ants are found almost anywhere on the earth and it has been estimated to be at least one quadrillion living ants on the earth!

Consider their division of labor. In an ant colony you may see upward of twenty million ants consisting of a queen or queens, the female workers and the males. Certain members carry specific functions with some tending the larvae and others forging for food.

All Christians are commanded to work, yet, there is a sort of division in the Lord's church of the work load. "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." {Ephesians 4:11,12} But each member must pull their own load to make the whole body function better. "From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." {Ephesians 4:16}

The church has elders, to oversee the body, "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly." {1 Peter 5:2} Deacons who serve, 1 Timothy 3:8-12. Preachers who teach those who are lost and edify Christians in the word, 2 Timothy 4:2; Acts 20:32. All members depended on each other for encouragement, support, and showing the same love one for another, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; John 13:34,35. God's eternal design left a place for each child of God to occupy, to enhance and make His church strong, each member feeling and understanding their roles are important to that work.

Consider their foresight. One can clearly see their foresight or wisdom in providing for their future in that they provide their food in the summer and gather their food in the harvest, Proverbs 6:8. Ants must be good planners.

Why do we know that the ants must have this type of foresight? Having no guide, overseer, or ruler -- they are still disciplined enough in preparing for their needs by adding to a common storage. The sluggard is warned to wake up to this example before they find themselves in deep poverty and want, Proverbs 6:9-11.

God's people also need to have foresight in their planning as well. How so?

Parents need such foresight in raising their children. "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." {Ephesians 6:4}

Each Christian needs such foresight. "For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error." {2 Peter 2:18} Parents, Christians, and churches must have foresight of the directions they are heading or they will spiritually perish. A good knowledge of God's word can help us make such plans.

Consider their unwearied activity. "Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." {Proverbs 6:8} The ant is careful to make preparation through unwearied activity so as to be prepared when the needs arise.

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer." {Proverbs 30:25} The situations or the surroundings never takes him away from the need to accomplish his tasks.

The work in the kingdom of God's people must be much the same. Unwearied and undaunted no matter the time, obstacles, or discouragements Satan may place in our way. "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work." {John 9:4}

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." {Galatians 6:9} We must have a mind for this work! {Nehemiah 4:6}