Theme: DIGNITY OF LABOUR
Text: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” – Proverbs 6:6-8.
Comment: In the text for today, King Solomon, under divine inspiration, addressed the sluggard or a lazy person who spends his or her time idling away in bed or around houses or streets. Such ones love easy life, live in idleness, stick to nothing, and are careless in the practice of religious faith. Slothfulness is a sure way to poverty. (Proverbs 18:9) People of such character are referred to in the text for today as unwise. They are advised to change for good by learning from the ant that have no leader yet have enough wisdom and discipline to work together to gather their food when the weather is favorable.
Young persons by virtue of their strength are in their time of good weather. They should wake up and start to labour to fend for themselves and for relative comfort in future for their old age when they will no more be strong to work. (Ecclesiastics 12:1; 11:4-10; Lamentations 3:27) Continuing, Solomon the Prophet declared: “How long will thou sleep, O sluggard? When will thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.” (Proverbs 6:9-11). Therefore, children of God should take up the gauntlet and face the challenge of life with faith and prayer to God.