Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
The verse sends the sluggard and the idle person to the ant to consider her ways and in that way to learn wisdom and become wise. It likens those who are inactive to the sluggard and bids them consider the ant's ways and be wise. The ant works with diligent, skillful and patient industry, taking up only one small grain at a time yet accomplishing great work by steady effort. Its perseverance overcomes obstacles. It works and lays up food with no guide, overseer or ruler, showing that faithfulness and foresight may be learned from even the smallest creatures.
The ant provides for the future by preparing food for future seasons. The verse thereby teaches people to use the abilities God has given them diligently and wisely so as to increase their usefulness. The ant's industry reproves those who waste time in sinful idleness and in practices that harm and corrupt body and soul. Its preparation for the future teaches people to prepare for the future immortal life. That immortal life is what God has provided for fallen humanity.
Wisdom lies in diligence rather than idleness, calling for daily, habitual and persistent work, especially physical labor in the open air, for work is honorable and benefits body and mind. Diligence and self-support are wise, and the desire to bear one's own responsibilities rather than depend on others is a noble ambition, with industrious habits and frugality necessary. Folding the hands in inactivity is a failure to act, and the warning reaches those who know the truth yet remain spiritually inactive instead of taking up missionary work. The verse warns against spiritual sluggishness and calls for earnest progress in Christian character, since a divided, half-hearted life brings doubt and darkness and enjoys neither the consolations of religion nor the pleasures of the world. Christians are not to follow the spiritual sluggard nor sleep at their post, but to press forward and deal faithfully and honestly with their own souls.
The verse sends the sluggard and the idle person to the ant to consider her ways and in that way to learn wisdom and become wise. It likens those who are inactive to the sluggard and bids them consider the ant's ways and be wise. The ant works with diligent, skillful and patient industry, taking up only one small grain at a time yet accomplishing great work by steady effort. Its perseverance overcomes obstacles. It works and lays up food with no guide, overseer or ruler, showing that faithfulness and foresight may be learned from even the smallest creatures.
The ant provides for the future by preparing food for future seasons. The verse thereby teaches people to use the abilities God has given them diligently and wisely so as to increase their usefulness. The ant's industry reproves those who waste time in sinful idleness and in practices that harm and corrupt body and soul. Its preparation for the future teaches people to prepare for the future immortal life. That immortal life is what God has provided for fallen humanity.
Wisdom lies in diligence rather than idleness, calling for daily, habitual and persistent work, especially physical labor in the open air, for work is honorable and benefits body and mind. Diligence and self-support are wise, and the desire to bear one's own responsibilities rather than depend on others is a noble ambition, with industrious habits and frugality necessary. Folding the hands in inactivity is a failure to act, and the warning reaches those who know the truth yet remain spiritually inactive instead of taking up missionary work. The verse warns against spiritual sluggishness and calls for earnest progress in Christian character, since a divided, half-hearted life brings doubt and darkness and enjoys neither the consolations of religion nor the pleasures of the world. Christians are not to follow the spiritual sluggard nor sleep at their post, but to press forward and deal faithfully and honestly with their own souls.