‘Look at the ant …’

Prov. 6. 6.
Too many of us are waiting for someone to come along and tell us what to do next. The story is told of a man who was employed by a Duke and Duchess. One day he was called into speak to his employer. ‘James, how long have you been with us?’ said the Duchess. ‘About 30 years your Grace’, he replied. ‘As I recall you were employed to look after the dog’, she said. ‘Yes, your Grace’. ‘James, that dog died 27 years ago’, said the Duchess. ‘Yes, your Grace’, said James. ‘What would you like me to do now?’

The reason we fail to take the initiative is because we don’t realize the consequences of our inaction. Solomon writes. ‘Look at the ant. Nobody has to tell it what to do. All summer it stores up food. So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy – do you know what comes next? A dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent houseguest’, Prov. 6 vv. 6-11 TMV.

Whatever we do or neglect to do always catches up with us. Those who procrastinate end up like the man in playwright James Albery’s verse:

He slept beneath the moon,
he baked beneath the sun.
He lived a life of going-to-do;
and died with nothing done.

Paul writes, ‘God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well’, Rom. 12. 6. Knowing your ability is one of the keys to understanding life’s assignment, but you can only plan and prepare for so long, then you’ve got to take action!

Taken from Word for Today, a free daily devotional.