Wisdom That Leads to JOY

           Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Be diligent in working toward becoming all that God created you to be and not only will you find joy, but also wisdom!

            God’s Word says in Proverbs 6:6, “Go to the ant, you sluggard!  Consider her ways and be wise.”  What does this mean? Let’s pull out our investigative tools and look closely at that simply little verse.  Go to the ant---we can observe one of God’s tiniest creations and learn much. From the ant’s example we can see:

• Cooperation
• Perseverance
• Diligence in working
• Sacrifice
• Strength in working together
• Unity in purpose

(taken from The Essesials for Walking in Wisdom by Charles Stanley)

The term “sluggard” is used in this verse….A sluggard is a lazy person. The ant is just the opposite: an example of diligence & planning and serves as a rebuke to a sluggard (the lazy person who lacks self control).

God does not like for us to be lazy. The ant teaches great lessons on the subject of work.

·        The ant works without another ant over him and, yet, gets his work done and done well.

·         The ant prepares ahead and is never short of food. Indeed, we should “consider her ways and be wise”.   

·        We should not have to be driven to work, but should do our work…simply because it needs to be done. As Colossians 3:23 teaches:  “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

            When we are committed to living out each day for the Lord, then we will experience His genuine joy…in our work AND in our play!