Quit Blaming Others; Get to Work!

Quit Blaming Others; Get to Work!

Proverbs 6:6-8 - Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

 

    The natural world can teach us many lessons about life, the way things work and the principles that govern all of it. Wisdom is clearly revealed in God’s creation.

    In today’s culture and generation, there seems to be a growing sense that life owes them. We have rights, after all. What are you going to do for me? This view could be called a sense of entitlement; I was born here so I have a right to have the best freely given to me. Sadly, this attitude has followed people into their adulthood and is now widespread in our government, our schools, our workplaces and, our churches.

    We have fallen prey to bankrupt philosophies that do not produce what they promise. Our school systems do not require what they once did from students; we have taken away the concept of reward for accomplishment; now we reward simple existence. We have gone from giving awards for achievement to giving awards for participation. The idea that everyone is valuable is something we agree with and wish to promote but, the idea that everyone should be given the same amount and the same reward is something we disagree with and wish to eradicate. All people are equal in value but, not all people are equal in what they possess or accomplish. Study history, friends, that kind of agenda has failed worldwide. Many employers of today, because of a shortage of willing workers, are afraid to correct those who need it for fear that they will leave. If people will not respond to proper correction and direction, let them go; blessed riddance; the whole workplace will thank you for it, and productivity will go up. The sluggard, themselves, may one day come back to thank you for doing the right thing.

    The lazy person is instructed to go to the ant. This levels the playing field for all people; everyone can find an anthill or a colony to observe. He did not say go to the university or go to the library; the wisdom that is needed is not inaccessible or far away; just go outside and look down. Consider the ways of the ant. The ant is not sitting around waiting for payday, no, it instinctively goes to work. It is a steady contributor to the greater good of the colony; it has a sense of duty, not entitlement, and all of it is built into its’ nature.

    The ant is considered wise because even though it has no one watching over it to ensure that it is working, it works anyway. Someone has once defined character as that which you do when no one is watching. The ant has an intrinsic work ethic that spurs it on in its’ tasks.

    Another characteristic of the ant which is worthy of our notice is that it gathers food during the harvest, meaning, it gathers food when the food is available. It does not put off things. It does not procrastinate and thus miss out on the opportunities presented to it. Many of us have fallen prey to procrastination and laziness; we have postponed our diligence not knowing that negligence opens the door for all kinds of negative and destructive things. Nature abhors a vacuum and so does the human heart; if the door is open thieves will come in, make themselves right at home and consume all your goods.

    The ant is amazingly strong and productive and we too, can have those same qualities as we consider her ways. Ways are habits, patterns and routines that depict ones’ character. If we develop a hard-working and honest lifestyle, we instill in ourselves the ways of God. Isaiah has told us that God’s ways are higher than our ways but, we can take His Word and make His higher ways our ways, thus we will elevate our lives.

    The Proverbs always confront us with our responsibility. It is true that many things have happened to us that we are not responsible for, but we are responsible for our reaction to it. We are not helpless victims of the circumstances of life; we are powerful beings created in the image of God and we have the power to change our ways and enjoy the results. Go to the ant and watch how nothing will stop this energetic and productive worker. Blame is not part of its thinking or vocabulary, instead, it goes to work to fix the problem. Many people and workplaces today, always want to assign blame first and then find a solution but the ant will always find the solution and not waste time and energy determining who is at fault. Be encouraged, friends, just by making this one simple change, we can radically alter and improve our day to day lives. Go to the Ant!