Exceedingly Wise  –  Proverbs in Practice

Readers, I made a big mistake. As a result you did not find the blog in your inbox last week. You will find the blog for March 17 at the end of this one. I apologize!

Truly, former procrastinators, God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.  We have so much to learn.

“There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:  the ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer.”  Proverbs 39:24

This amazes me.  A tiny ant called wise.  One of four things mentioned out of all God created.  An ant. 

How does an ant show wisdom?  The only thing the proverb refers to is preparing their food ahead of winter.  They show up.  They plod on, doing what they are supposed to do.  They have what they need when they need it. 

They have what they need when they need it.  That shows wisdom I sometimes don’t.  And the simple, plodding, faithful way they do it is encouraging.

Ants live a few weeks to a year.  They have a short time to fulfill their purpose and they do it.  In an online article “Six Amazing Facts You Need to Know About Ants,” I saw this:

“Worker ants are all female, and this sisterhood is responsible for the harmonious operation of the colony… Their tasks range from caring for the queen and the young, foraging, policing conflicts in the colony, and waste disposal.”

This cracked me up.  It sounds like a mom!  Then I got to thinking… Actually, we are responsible for much of the harmonious operation in our home-colony.  Neglecting to cook ahead, choosing to read when I know I should garden, putting off help with the science project.  Not doing what needs doing when it needs doing creates stress.  There’s definitely more harmony when we act in a timely manner.

Timely action is something we can do even if we are a people not strong.

Then I read on.  “Ants have a major influence in ecosystems world wide and their roles are diverse.  Some “act as biological control agents.  Ants benefit ecosystems by dispersing seeds, pollinating plants and improving the quality of soil.”

So tiny.  And not strong.  But by their faithful work, they prove wise.  Their influence is way beyond anything I would’ve imagined.

Do you feel small?  Not strong?  Consider the ant.  And consider this:  God made us in His image.  He calls us to seek His wisdom and He gives us His Word.  By being in His Word, we can have what we need when we need it.  Amazing.

Recall a time when God’s Word came to mind when you needed His wisdom.