December 20, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs - Self Initiative Goes Far
Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Again, the book of Proverbs is very unique in the it gives us insight to all aspects of life. In our text we find the word sluggard.
SLUG'GARD, noun [from slug and ard, slow kind.] A person habitually lazy, idle and inactive; a drone. (Websters Dictionary 1825)
One of the great problems of today is idleness or laziness. It is the self motivated the initiator that gets things done.
I’m convinced that ten percent of the people in the churches today accomplish ninety percent of the work while the other eighty percent accomplish ten percent of the work and the last ten percent do nothing. Praise God for the ten percent who desire to accomplish much for God.
If you have ever watched the ants, in their activities, you will find they are never lazy. They prepare for the future. They provide their meat (their food) in the summer before the harsh times of winter prevail over them. They are always ready and active going about their business without guide, overseer or ruler.
They have a plan, given by God as the salmon that run up stream in the fall and the birds that fly south in the winter and the bees that gather nectar. They are driven by the inert will of God. Are you driven by the will of God
There is great participation and great unity in their actions. Everyone works and everyone works in unison. You never see the ants fighting, arguing or demanding praise or recognition, they just get the job done. You never see one ant trying to take control and rule over the rest. You never see one ant trying the change the format because he thinks his way is better. There is great unity with the ants.
There is solidarity in their work and there is sharing in the work. You never see ants trying to steal from the stash gathered for the winter. They share in the work and the rewards.
There is no socialism with ants. Meaning there are no ants that let all the rest of the ants do the work while so called special ants sit back and reap from their work. Every ant supports every other ant. They work together, they share in their work they share in their food and they protect each other. No ant is a sluggard, no ant is lazy.
2Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
We can learn quite a bit from the ant; we can learn and make great application to our own life and society if we only look. Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
I am so glad God took the initiative and accomplished His work and prepared for us that we might be saved. No one prompted God, no one forced God, no one convinced God and God was not lazy concerning His plan of salvation. He accomplished everything He said He would and He will continue to do so. He did so because He loved us.
God is not lazy nor does He sleep. God is always working on our behalf.
Have you considered the ant and are you wise?
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
