TheSkinnyDays

Wise Ants

Recently, I read 2 books about insects. And in both books, they mentioned an interesting verse from the bible - ”Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. ” (Proverbs 6:6).

It is quite amazing that had God created those creatures, that many may distaste, and wired them to do everyday ‘no brainer’ work.

‘No brainer’? Many may think so. However, one may like to take note that leafcutter ants actively cultivate fungus in the underground chambers of their nest, by feeding it with freshly-cut plant material and maintaining it free from pests and molds. So wise! Who have told them that instead of being hunters (search and find their prey fungus), they should be farmers (growing and cultivating food to ensure sufficient and consistent supply)?

Besides that, ants work diligently, carrying one grain of sand at a time, to build tunnels for their home. They are continually searching for food to feed their families (or food to feed their food-leaves for fungus). When the storms of life come, sometimes weekly or daily, they pick themselves up out of the mud and rebuild their homes.

One might think it is easy for them to do their work, after all there are so many of them. But with no chief architect, no president, no commander-in-chief…  how is it possible that they know what to do, where to go to find food, how to defend their nests against other enemy ants… Many people will call this collective intelligence displayed by a colony of ants. But this collective intelligence does not explain how things are done.

Role playing. I think that is how things are done in the world of the ants. Each and every single ant has and knows the special role (purpose) it plays in the big colony (fighter ants fight, worker ants find food and take care of nest, queen ants lag eggs) and it will do its best to complete its duty, thus serving its colony. So no lazy bums and slackers, no greed or selfish individuals but only honest, loyal and dutiful servants of the large colony.

In many ways, I see that I have lacked this qualities. And I believe that this characteristics are essential for a son of the heavenly Father to do the Father’s work.

The ways of the ants are wise. King Solomon was wiser. God is wisest.

And I am humbled.