{"id":1972,"date":"2018-09-06T20:42:57","date_gmt":"2018-09-07T00:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=1972"},"modified":"2018-09-06T20:42:57","modified_gmt":"2018-09-07T00:42:57","slug":"lesson-from-the-ants-august-19-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=1972","title":{"rendered":"Lesson From the Ants, August 19, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"5296399_orig\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

Central Thought: God will always bless those who diligently do their part and rely on Him.<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Text: Proverbs 6:4-11<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Introduction:<\/h4>\n

As big as the elephant is, it is not mentioned in the Bible.\u00a0 As small as the ant is, however, it featured prominently in Scriptures.\u00a0 It was used as an instructional aid to drive home fundamental lessons on wisdom about orderly lifestyle and diligence.\u00a0 The ants are indeed small living creatures that could be observed to obtain knowledge.\u00a0 A close observation of the living pattern of the ants reveals an orderly community of creatures doing their things diligently without supervision.\u00a0 They are time-conscious beings that provide for the \u201crainy day\u201d.\u00a0 In this study, we shall examine these creatures with a view to deriving pertinent lessons from their living pattern.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lesson Objectives:<\/h3>\n

This lesson is intended to accomplish the following objectives:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Describe some physical features of the ants.<\/li>\n
  2. Draw salient lessons from the life pattern of the ants.<\/li>\n
  3. Explain the principles of hard work and prayers in life endeavors.<\/li>\n
  4. Discuss how a Christian can remain diligent among the slothful.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    1.\u00a0 What would one observe while watching the ants?\u00a0 Proverbs 6:6-7<\/h4>\n

    Ants are small insects that live in highly organized groups.\u00a0 They are social insects.\u00a0 There are many types of these ant but they share some characteristics in common\u00a0\u2013 among which are:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. They have six legs<\/li>\n
    2. They are divided into three parts bodily.<\/li>\n
    3. Some even have wings.\u00a0 There are various species of the ants.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      The first observation that one could make while watching a colony of ants is that they have no captain or commander or overseer.\u00a0 Each of them has a divinely-coded instinct for survival.\u00a0 Secondly, ants are sensitive and punctual to every available opportunity that comes across their way.\u00a0 For instance, they quickly reach out to any crumb of food.\u00a0 Also, ants display a high sense of diligence in the pursuit of set goals such as that displayed in the pulling of food or building materials into their holes (anthills).<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      2.\u00a0 What lessons can we draw from the ants and other small creatures listed in Proverbs 30:24-28?<\/h4>\n

      Some basic lessons that can be derived from the behavior of the ants and other small creatures are<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Believers should sharpen their survival instincts by catching every opportunity that pass them by daily.<\/li>\n
      2. The ant is a very punctual creature.\u00a0 Believers should take a cure from this.\u00a0 Today many Christians go late to school, work, Church, etc.<\/li>\n
      3. The ant is very diligent in all it does.\u00a0 This virtue should characterize the life of the believer.\u00a0 We should be known to be very dutiful in our offices, schools, private business, home and in church, Proverbs 12:24<\/li>\n
      4. For the ants, there is no tree too tall, no ground too hard to build its home.\u00a0 Similarly, the believer should be determined to succeed no mater the prevailing economic and environmental conditions.<\/li>\n
      5. The ants display a high sense of resilience.\u00a0 Even when their \u201chouse\u201d\u009d is destroyed due to human activity they quickly regroup to reconstruct it.\u00a0 Believers should be determined never to give up no matter the obstacles.\u00a0 The righteous is not immune to setbacks.\u00a0 He may fall seven times but rises again seven times.<\/li>\n
      6. These tiny ants pull their little strengths together to form a large pull of power.\u00a0 They are therefore able to accomplish great things such as creating highways through concrete walls or pulling food sever times bigger than them.\u00a0 These teach believers the power of unity.<\/li>\n
      7. Finally, the believer must learn from the ants the act of saving compulsorily for the rainy day.\u00a0 Our earnings must be properly managed in order to have a reserve.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

         <\/p>\n

        3A.\u00a0 How do the principles of \u201chard work and prayers\u201d\u009d relate to success in live endeavors?\u00a0 Deuteronomy 8:17-18; Romans 12:11<\/h4>\n

        The believer must first understand that he is a child of God.\u00a0 Hence, he is entitled to his father\u2019s abundance (to prosperity).\u00a0 In order to succeed on earth therefore, the believer must depend absolutely on God through prayers.\u00a0 He should seek divine guidance and wisdom on what to do, when to do it and even where to do it, Proverbs 3:5-6.\u00a0 Thereafter, he must work diligently to actualize his clearly defined goal in life.\u00a0 Isaac worked assiduously in a very austere environment and God prospered him, Genesis 6:33.\u00a0 Thus, hard work and prayers are complementary to each other and must be addressed by the believer in order to attain success.<\/p>\n

        <\/h4>\n

        3B.\u00a0 What are the consequences of laziness?\u00a0 Proverbs 6:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-13<\/h4>\n

        A lazy person is the sluggard severally mentioned in Scriptures.\u00a0 He is a lover of sleep, gets tired quickly of every activity.\u00a0 He lives in a world of fantasy.\u00a0 Among the many consequences of this disposition are:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. He will suffer poverty, Proverbs 6:11<\/li>\n
        2. The lazy man is not able to fulfill his life dreams or aspirations.<\/li>\n
        3. He suffers from having no plans, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          All in all, a lazy man is useless to God, himself, and the society.<\/p>\n

          <\/h4>\n

          4.\u00a0 How can a Christian remain diligent among the slothful?\u00a0 Proverbs 14:1; Romans 12:11; Psalm 1:1-3; Joshua 1:8<\/h4>\n

          From the Scriptures above, the Christian can remain diligent among the slothful by:<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Self-determination to succeed, Proverbs 14:1<\/li>\n
          2. He must work very hard always and not give in to laziness, Romans 12:11<\/li>\n
          3. Serving dutifully anywhere as unto God and not man, Ephesians 6:7<\/li>\n
          4. Working with the consciousness of God\u2019s sure reword, Ephesians 6:8<\/li>\n
          5. He should not permit ungodly influence in his life but always allow the word of God to direct his actions, Psalm 1:1-3<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            <\/h4>\n

            5.\u00a0 What are the benefits of displaying those qualities you observe in the ant and other smaller creatures?<\/h4>\n

            Applying the qualities displayed by these little ants will create the Spirit of hard work in business and ministry in the believer\u2019s life.\u00a0 This will ensure good success in life and consequently attaining self-fulfillment and self-actualization.\u00a0 Such a believer will be a useful instrument to God and society.\u00a0 He will be a role model for others to emulate.\u00a0 The world will also celebrate him while God will welcome him as a good and faithful servant.<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

            Daily Living Application:<\/h3>\n

            God made the ants small on purpose.\u00a0 It is not because God ran out of raw materials.\u00a0 It is to teach us fundamental lessons to make us, bigger creatures, wise.\u00a0 We should therefore learn to be dutiful in our various life endeavors.\u00a0 We should complement our self-effort with prayers.\u00a0 Life the little ants, believers should live planned and organized lives.\u00a0 God will always help those who diligently play their part and rely on Him.<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

            Memory Verse:<\/h3>\n

            Romans 12:11 \u2013 \u201cNot slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Central Thought: God will always bless those who diligently do their part and rely on Him.   Text: Proverbs 6:4-11   Introduction: As big as the elephant is, it is not mentioned in the Bible.\u00a0 As small as the ant is, however, it featured prominently in Scriptures.\u00a0 It was used as an instructional aid to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sundayschool"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/5296399_orig.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1972","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1972"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1972\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3915,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1972\/revisions\/3915"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1972"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}