II-17 MY TEACHER, THE ANT!
(Labor Day) Sept 5, 2004
(Proverbs 6:6-9)

No one is too smart to learn from others. Even small insignificant things can teach us if we are willing to learn. Once a very wise person advised men to take lessons from ants! "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?" (Prov. 6:6-9).

In observing these insects, there are at least three principles to note:
 
I. THE ANT WORKS WITHOUT SUPERVISION

The ant is a self-motivator, a self-starter and a self evaluator. In short she is self-disciplined. "Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler" (v. 7).

Such characteristics are so rare and valuable. How many employees work just as hard when the boss is away? How many employees will voluntarily shorten their lunch hour or cut out their coffee breaks in order to complete an assignment? How many employees do more than is required without the incentive of bonuses or over time?

Yes, working without supervision would dramatically improve the labor market in American. We could eliminate many managers, foremen and inspectors. We could increase quality and productivity. We could reduce our national import/export imbalance. We could also avoid many tragedies. One worker went to sleep on the job and failed to secure the door in a ferry boat. Over two hundred people died in the English Channel tragedy!

No great artist or inventor ever does his task for an audience or an overseer. He does his task for himself. Responsibility is doing the right thing without being told.

A railroad watchman was stationed at a dangerous crossing. An accident occurred at that crossing in which a number of people were killed. An inquest was held and the watchman was called to testify. "Were you present at the time the accident occurred?" he was asked. "Oh, yes, I was on duty," he declared. "And did you go out to the track when you heard the train approaching to warn travelers of the danger?" "Oh, yes, indeed," was the reply, "I stood right in the middle of the road." Did you have your lantern with you? "Oh, yes. I had it." "Did you wave your lantern?" "Oh, yes. I waved it." Everything seemed to be in order, so, the watchman was dismissed and acquitted.

Later the watchman retold the account of the inquest. He concluded by mopping his brow and exclaiming, "Boy, that judge had me in a bad spot with all his questions; but he never did get around to asking me whether the lantern was lit." Responsibility!

What a lesson in responsibility we could learn from the ant! Working without supervision is a sign of Christian maturity.
 
II.  SECOND, THE ANT ACCOMPLISHES, IMMEDIATELY, WORTHWHILE GOALS
The ant does not procrastinate. She has no empty procedures or aimless actions. She wastes no time. "'Provideth her meat in the summer. . ." (v. 8).

Such initiative and pragmatic implementation is extremely desirable.  Mindless bureaucracy with its red tape and endless non-productive busyness is stalling all branches of our government. It is destroying large corporations. It is hurting people and wrecking financial institutions. Simple practical efficiency would solve many of the major economic problems in our country. Someone said, , 'A committee is a small group of people who keep minutes and waste hours!" A Chinese proverb says, "If we don't change our course, we're in danger of ending up where we're headed!"

If so, many of us are headed for the miscellaneous file or the trash heap because we don't define our goals.

The book, Alice in Wonderland, was written over a hundred years ago. It is said to be the most quoted piece of English literature ever written. It's a favorite among children and adults alike. In it, Alice falls into this rabbit burrow and plunges into a world of strange things.

Soon after landing, she meets the Cheshire cat. Alice says to the cat, "Oh, please, sir, would you tell me which way I should go?" And the cat says, "Well, where do you want to get to?" "Oh, it really doesn't make any difference where I get to; just tell me which way I should go?" Again, the cat says, "Well, if it doesn't make any difference where you are going, it doesn't make any difference which way you go." Alice protests, "But I want to get somewhere." To this the cat says, "Don't worry. You will get somewhere!"

This is a silly conversation, but it relates a profound truth. You will get somewhere, don't worry. Whether you have a goal or not, you are going to be somewhere by the end of today. You are going to be somewhere by the end of this week. You are going to be somewhere by the end of this year. You are going to be somewhere by the end of life. Whether you pay any attention to goal-setting or not, you will be somewhere. The question is: Are you going to determine your own direction and purposes; or are you going to let circumstances and other people decide what you are going to be and where you are going to be at the end of this day? At the end of this year? At the end of your life? Ultimately, the responsibility for where you get to is up to you. We must decide.

Once a reporter met Buz Aldrin, the astronaut. He said, Mr. Aldrin, if you were alone in space and your engine broke down and you had one hour's worth of oxygen, what would you do during your last hour of life."
 
"Oh, that's easy," replied Mr. Aldrin. "I'd work on that engine!"

You see, accomplishing worthwhile goals is essential. No matter what the motivation courses tell you, just' 'thinking you can" won't achieve success. You must add knowledge, skill, determination and energy to your positive thinking!  When the pioneers reached a river, they crossed it. When the pioneers reached a mountain, they climbed it. When the pioneers reached an insurmountable obstacle, they overcame it!

The story is told of a young man who took a shortcut through a cemetery one night. He fell into an open grave and was unable to get out. He decided to save his strength, go to sleep and wait till morning for help. In the meantime another fellow took a shortcut and fell into the same open grave. As he was threshing around trying to climb out, the first man woke up and said, "You'll never get out of here! I couldn't!" But he did! Motivation sometimes works miracles.

What a lesson in initiative we could learn from the ant. Accomplishing worthwhile goals is the purpose of life.

III. THIRD, THE ANT PROVIDES FOR THE FUTURE

The ant put's into practice that crucial principle known as Deferred Gratification. The Deferred Gratification Pattern includes vision, prudence and common sense. , 'And gathereth her food in the harvest" (v. 8).

The one difference between success and failure is often the person's willingness to wait for gratification. To save for tomorrow, to work now and buy later instead of enjoy now and pay later is, an almost unheard of habit. Yet, we're jeopardizing our children's future to have it before we've earned it. Credit cards, second mortgages and national debts are the sins that will bring America down. Greed, not terrorism is our greatest enemy. When people say I want to make a million, they usually mean, "I want to spend a million." These two are entirely different things.

Research shows that ninety percent of Americans who gain a windfall through the lottery or other unexpected source lose all of it within five years. Most of us are economically illiterate. A recent candidate said, "My fellow citizens, what we need to do in this country is to borrow enough money to get completely out of debt.

A noted psychologist was asked to give the reasons why so many people failed in their efforts to achieve success. The scientist gave the following frank and valid reasons:

"1. Doing as little as possible and trying to get as much as possible for doing it;
2. Putting off until tomorrow what we should have done the day before yesterday;
3. Believing we are smart enough to reap a harvest of pay before sowing a crop of service."

What a lesson in prudence we could learn from the ant! Providing for the future determines our survival as a species. Yes, we need responsible investment and prudence. God worked and Christ worked. "My Father is working until now, and I myself am working" (John 5:17).

If God worked, and Jesus worked, what on earth makes us think we can get along without working?

We must work. A theologian said, "It's a greater sin to not work on the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth days, than it is to work on the seventh day.

" Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, 0 sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?" (Prov. 6:6-9).

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(Word Count 1560)

OUR RATIONALE:

After many years of pastoring small churches and teaching (especially college students, who represent the next generation), we have chosen to emphasize certain very relevant, neglected aspects of the Gospel—namely: personal discipline (maturity and responsibility); family relationships (marriage and child rearing); general life skills and common sense.

Our social problems today prove that these characteristics are so important.  Young people need them and are asking for them.

We are semi-retired—still teaching and ministering on a part time basis.  All we're really interested in now is using our experience to help others.  If you would like our Sermon Service/New Perspectives, please avail yourself of them.  There is no obligation.

We also have much of this information in books—provided to you for postage while the supply lasts.

We can not improve on the messages from the great Evangelistic Preachers.  Material in our Essays and Sermons usually present the Gospel from a psychological point of view.

My ministry has been blessed immeasurably by reading other people's sermons.  When I started preaching 57 years ago, I waited for "inspiration" (usually Saturday night, about midnight) before I began my sermon preparation.  Then, I discovered it wasn't inspiration at all—it was sheer PANIC.  I would have welcomed this service.

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Past issues of our quarterly newsletter, NEW PERSPECTIVES and a Booklist are also on our website:  www.diversitypress.com and by Email.  We now send a revised New Perspectives by Email weekly.  I'll send them to you for your consideration.

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Miles E Wesner