Learn from the Ant
Throughout the ages people have learned from animals and insects. Here is an ancient Greek story about an ant:
An ant and a fly were contending with great warmth which was of greater importance. The fly was the first to begin: “Can you possibly compare with my endowments? When a sacrifice is made, I am the first to taste of the entrails that belong to the Gods. I pass my time among the altars, I wander through all the temples; soon as I have espied it, I seat myself on the head of a king; and I taste of the chaste kisses of matrons. I labor not, and yet enjoy the nicest of things. What like to this, good rustic, falls to your lot?”
“Eating with the Gods,” said the ant, “is certainly a thing to be boasted of; but by him who is invited, not him who is loathed as an intruder. You talk about kings and the kisses of matrons. While I am carefully heaping up a stock of grain for winter, I see you feeding on filth about the walls. You frequent the altars; yes, and are driven away as often as you come. You labor not; therefore it is that you have nothing when you stand in need it. And, further, you boast about what modesty ought to conceal. You tease me in summer; when winter comes you are silent. While the cold is shriveling you up and putting you to death, a well-stored abode harbors me. Surely I have now pulled down your pride enough.”
In the Bible, the book of Proverbs also draws a lesson from the ant:
“Lazy people should learn a lesson from the way ants live. They have no leader, chief, or ruler, but they store up their food during the summer, getting ready for winter. How long is the lazy man going to lie around? When is he ever going to get up? “I’ll just take a short nap,” he says; “I’ll fold my hands and rest a while.” But while he sleeps, poverty will attack him like an armed robber.” (Proverbs 6:6-11, Good News Translation.)
The Scout Law says, “A Scout is Thrifty.” That means that a Scout plans ahead. The Scout Motto is “Be Prepared.” The way to be prepared is to plan and save for the future.
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Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
--meditation by Richard E. Davies