As we look to nature, we can see that there are commands embedded in the animal’s DNA. As soon as a horse (Foal) is born, it immediately seeks to stand up and looks for its mother so it can begin to feed. It doesn’t need to go to school to learn these life skills and habits. The Proverbist taught that we need to look to the ant and learn from them: “Go to the ant, O lazy one; Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Overseer or ruler, she prepares her food in the summer and brings in her provisions [of food for the winter] in the harvest. How long will you lie down, o lazy one? When will you arise from your sleep [and learn self-discipline]?” Proverbs 6:6-8. They are “wired” for success. They have in their DNA the innate knowledge of how to work in their community, and exactly when to go get their food. They even know how to store their food for the winter. Two things stand out: a) They thrive because they are diligent and consistent and, b) each one does their part consistently. This consistency and “community-level” diligence allows the entire community to thrive and prosper each and every year. The proverbist told us to observe and learn from this. We are the only species that have the ability to choose to refuse to do the very things that can cause us to prosper and thrive. Our decision to go against what can help us can destroy us as well as our families. We can choose to take drugs, choose to smoke, choose to stay home and be lazy, choose to remain uneducated, choose to make excuses and blame others for our faulty decisions. We can also choose to be like the ant and embrace the very disciplines that will help us to thrive, grow, expand, learn, work toward a clear beneficial future, gather provisions in the summer for the winter season, etc. Today, God is reminding us that it is our responsibility to allow Him to re-wire us for success in our lives, and that includes rejecting the habits and patterns of laziness and failure and embracing new habits and patterns (like the ant) that will allow us to prepare our food in the summer, and bring in the provisions for the winter. No more excuses! It’s time to get to work!
This is a dangerous and foolish mindset!
I have seen an evil mindset and belief that has seeped into this generation. This belief is that we don’t need correction from our elders. We don’t need instruction. We don’t need anyone to tell us what we need to do. It has gotten so bad that many even get offended and angry when they are corrected, and will even shun or reject their parents, pastors or mentors because they attempted to correct something in them that could hurt them in the long-run. This mindset or belief is dangerous to your future. I understand that some people don’t know how to bring correction, but you can’t reject correction and instruction just because there are some who don’t know how to bring correction. Proverbs 9:9 says: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” When God is going to teach you something, He usually will bring a mentor to you. Even a difficult mentor can teach you a powerful truth. The key is to always be a student. Always be teachable. Some of the greatest lessons I’ve learned in life have come from very difficult circumstances, or from difficult, “hard to get along with” mentors, teachers or supervisors. Proverbs 1:7 says: “fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:22 says: “fools hate knowledge.” Think about it: Wise men receive instruction and become wiser; Fools reject and hate instruction, so they remain foolish and ignorant. Have you been wise, or have you been behaving foolishly? Are you a student, or do you know it all? Something to consider today!
