​Look to the Ant to Know Peace When the Storms Come

This is the last in our Tuesday morning series where we have been looking at seven different characters from God's Word.

​We've looked at ​Abraham: God’s Powerful Promise to a Patriarch, ​​Joseph: He Obeyed Quickly & Completely, Moses: Lifting the Hands of God’s Man, Moses & Aaron: The Leaders Punished, David: An Acceptable Offering​​, and Peter: Why Do You Doubt?

Today, we are looking at a character that's not human. We're looking at the ant. There's lots to be learned from this tiny creature. 

​These characters are also featured in (Part Three: Days 21-27 Men of God Character Study) our Come and Gather: Family Time With God 27-day devotional. Or, what we lovingly refer to as Gather.

Today's theme is diligence and our text is Proverbs 6:6-11

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise” (6:6).

A young man applied for a job as a farmhand. When asked for his qualifications, he said, "I can sleep when the wind blows." This puzzled the farmer, but he took a liking to the young man and hired him anyway. 

A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm. They quickly began to check things out to see if all was secure.

• They found that the shutters of the farmhouse had been securely fastened.
• A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace.
• The farm implements had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements.
• The tractor had been moved into the garage.
• The barn had been properly secured.

All was well! Even the animals were calm. It was then that the farmer grasped the meaning of the young man's words, "I can sleep when the wind blows."

Because the farmhand had performed his work loyally and faithfully when the skies were clear, he was prepared for the storm when it broke. Consequently, when the wind blew, he had no fear. He was able to sleep in peace.

The wisdom of Solomon is shared with his son as he encourages him to examine the ways of one of the smallest insects of creation. Even though the ant has no direction or supervision he still manages to do what must be done to be ready when the harvest is past and the cold winds of winter begin to blow. 

We are reminded that it is from a “little sleep, a little slumber” (Proverbs 6:10) that poverty comes. To have the character of the ant and the industriousness of that tiny creature is to know peace when the storms come.

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​Everyday Faithfulness:

The Beauty of Ordinary Perseverance in a Demanding World

What does the Christian life look like when life is unpredictable, hard, or just plain ordinary? We live in an instant-gratification world, where results are quickly measured and words like discipline and perseverance evoke thoughts of legalism or asceticism. But Everyday Faithfulness explores what daily perseverance in Christ looks like during various seasons when spiritual growth seems especially difficult. Working through the unique challenges that come with seasons of waiting, caretaking, suffering, worry, spiritual dryness, and more, this book delves into practical ways to build habits into everyday life that will aid in spiritual growth throughout a lifetime. Each chapter closes with a real-life example of a woman whose life of regular, everyday faithfulness will encourage readers to remain steadfast in theirs.​

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What can we do today, to develop within ourselves the character and industriousness of the ant, so that we know peace when the storms come?

Come and Gather: Family Time With God published with permission
​Pastor Jeremy Sweatt, Farmington Avenue Baptist Church, West Hartford, Connecticut