“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.” (Proverbs 6:6-8)
Shepherds feed their sheep, but they must eat too. We read of our Great Shepherd: “And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God” (Micah 5:4). Each of us has an obligation to collect our daily bread. Spiritual laziness has us depending on another human being for our nourishment.
In this New Covenant we are told: “And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.” (Heb. 8:11) God has given us teachers, but He is our primary Teacher. So much so that He says: “Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.” (Matt. 23:10)
We may do a great job of stocking our refrigerator and cupboard with all our body needs to live; but what about the needs of our soul? None of us can get all we need from a Sunday sermon. The shepherd leads his sheep into pasture each morning. Day by day, manna is available to those who will look for it.
The greatest under-shepherd cannot replace the Chief Shepherd. We live by every word that proceeds from His mouth. Our spiritual vitality depends on us hearing directly from Him. Be assured: If you ask, you will receive. If you seek, you will find. Though you have never heard from Him before, you can hear from Him now. Say, “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.”
The lazy put off until tomorrow what they should do today. But tomorrow ends up the same as today. Put away laziness. Learn from the ant. Get moving. Provision aplenty awaits.