MOTIVATION FROM ANTS
Ants are not something one would readily consider watching, other than watching them die as you apply poison. Here in Florida we are plagued with ants year round and if you aren’t careful they will take over your yard and work their way into the house. There have even been reports that “killer ants” are making their way throughout the south taking over open fields a little at a time.
The Bible brings up ants in two places and both are very applicable.
Proverbs 30:25 (ESV) the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer;
Proverbs 6:6-8 (ESV) 6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
If you ever watch a colony of ants you’ll notice the ants are in continual motion. There is no stopping them, even when you place an obstacle in front of them. They are on a focused mission and the Bible tells us we’d do well to think about how the ant works.
The lesson is simple. We all have things we are putting off today for a more convenient time. Sometimes that convenient time never comes and things get so out of hand calamity comes in our health, our wealth, our jobs, etc. All because we kept putting things off. It’s almost like we needed someone on our case, standing over us, pushing us to do what we needed to do. So God brings up the little pesky creature known as the ant, whose brain is about the size of a pinhead if that, to remind us that the ant does not have someone pushing it to move, yet it will not stop until the job is done.
What a lesson to consider in January. How many things have you thought about beginning but have put off? (Side note: One thing that people often talk of beginning in the new year is reading the Bible through in the year. If that is your case – it’s not too late to get started. If you will email us and request it, I will send you a systematic reading schedule that will take you through the Bible in a year. You can either work a little extra for the next few weeks or just add on the missed days next year. It will give you a good handle on the general flow of scripture and help you accomplish something important.)
Now wait a minute, let me make something clear: The lessons in Proverbs are not lessons in becoming a workaholic, rather lessons in overcoming procrastination. If the ant can do it so can you. What have you been putting off?
Take the first step today by taking action. However small it may be, take some action. Even if the first action you take is to make a list of things you have been putting off, at least that’s action. The next step is to do something to get the work going. Once motion is begun, let momentum take over.
Next time you go to poison or crush an ant, remember God’s lesson before you do that He has placed that ant before you as a reminder – don’t procrastinate.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
Bob is the pastor of Christ Community Presbyterian Church, Clearwater, Florida. See www.ccpconline.org for church information and listen to Bob’s latest sermons.
PowerBreak News:
All tax deductible donations to PowerBreak can be made through Christ Community Presbyterian Church, 2310 Nursery Road, Clearwater, FL 33764. Please note “PowerBreak” on your check.
The International Christian Triathlon Network Endurance Camp is set for January 2010. For details, click here http://www.ictrinet.com/. Hi everyone,
I'd like to invite you all to the 5th annual International Christian Triathlon Network Camp. It's in sunny Tucson, AZ January 29 - 31 (Friday - Sunday). I've attended this camp and have met several great folks. It's a combination of physical training, spiritual training, fellowship, worship, and networking with other Christian Multisport athletes from around the continent.
In addition to getting some great training in with other folks (in sunny AZ in the middle of winter), this camp is a great opportunity to recharge your spiritual batteries and connect with some great folks. It's not just for triathletes -- we often have single sport endurance athletes joining us as well: runners, swimmers, XC skiers, cyclists, adventure racers, climbers, hikers, and mountain climbers. There will even be a cycling challenge up Mt. Lemon in Tucson.
Feel free to spread the word and please let me know if you have any questions. Hope you will consider joining us!
Here's the link:
http://www.ictrinet.com/
