I have never been a person who cared much for insects, except to take great pains to keep them far away from myself! But when I realized the Bible exhorts us to “Consider the ant…” to gain wisdom (Proverbs 6:6) I decided to investigate what secrets might be observed in the life of the humble ant.
If we were going to anthropomorphize the tiny creature, it would not be overstating the case to say that ants are incredibly hardworking and diligent. Proverbs 30:24-25 states that ants are “exceedingly wise,” as they store up food for the future. But one of the most interesting facts I have discovered about ants is that they can carry a load 10 to 50 times their own body weight. (equivalent to a man carrying a car on his back!) Have you ever been on a picnic and watched an ant trying to carry off a large crumb of food multiple times larger than itself? It is an amazing sight to behold!
There is a parable to be found in the secret life of ants that we can apply to our lives as believers. Israeli scientists researched ant behavior for four years[1] and discovered they used teamwork to carry very heavy objects. If one ant can carry 10 to 50 times their body weight, imagine what a team of ants can accomplish!
So it is with us. In our current culture, many people go about their lives determined to simply “mind their own business.” Some are reticent to share what is happening in their lives and others prefer not to get involved with the problems of others. Yet as followers of Jesus we are called to live a lifestyle that is quite the opposite of these prevalent societal attitudes. We are to help one another “carry the load” as an act of love and obedience to the Lord’s command to “Love one another as I have loved you…” (John 13:34)
Paul the apostle spelled it out plainly and practically in the Epistle to the Galatians writing, “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
Not only are we to help our neighbors as they go through difficulties in life, but also to help people fulfill their personal callings from God. A word of encouragement is powerful – literally “imparting courage” to the hearer. Many successful people can point to a time in their lives when a word of encouragement made the difference between them pressing on or giving up. Years ago, when we were praying about starting an orphanage in Tanzania, we heard words of discouragement – “That is crazy – you don’t even know the language or have any money!” and words of encouragement – “You can do this! We are with you!” By the grace of God, the encouragement of fellow believers carried the day.
Find ways to bear one another’s burdens this week. And imagine what we can accomplish together – like our friends the ants – if we work together to fulfill God’s divine purposes in each of our lives!
[1] “Ants Use Great Teamwork Skills, Study Finds,” The Times of Israel, July 30, 2015 (https://www.timesofisrael.com/ants-possess-astonishing-teamwork-skills-study-finds/)