The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their food in the summer; Proverbs 30:25
Ants have certain characteristics of lifestyle and behavior which makes them similar to human beings. The scripture highlights these insects by calling them “The ant are a people..” because we can gain insight from their little lives!
The above scripture basically states that the ants have a sense for change of seasons, so in the times of plenty they prepare and store up food for the season of scarcity. The Bible tells us that Joseph did the same thing for the Egyptians. God instructed Joseph through the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream; he showed him how to save for the upcoming long season of famine in order to preserve the people.
This is an important principle that we can all learn from. God has always been a God of seasons in the nature as well our personal lives. The creation itself goes through different seasons. The Fall and Winter are designed to keep the plant healthy, well rooted, and established. Eventually the fun season of fruitfulness comes in the Spring and the Summer seasons, and it brings joy and celebration.
If the ants counted on food in every season, they would not survive the Fall and Winter seasons when there isn’t much food around. The ants know to save for the dry seasons and so should we.
Practically speaking as people of God, we don’t live in debt like the world does. We have a culture of debt where everything can be charged, and people have thousands of dollars of credit card debts. Part of the problem has risen from not having any/enough savings. As a result when something unplanned happens, there is no plan or anticipation for the unexpected. That’s when we are forced to charge a bill on our credit card and pay high interest rate for borrowing that money.
Recently, my son’s car was in the shop twice, and each time it cost a few hundred dollars to fix it. At the second round of repair, he offered to pay for part of the bill. I was glad that he cared enough to inquire about the cost of repair since he is just a college student at this point. While, we weren’t looking for his monetary assistance, it gave a great teaching moment in the necessity of savings. I told him that he should always be in the habit of tithing and saving. That prepares him for the unexpected, and Lord willing when he gets his full time job, he will always be in the position to pay his own bills. Can I get an “Amen” from all the parents with adult children?
What season are you in? Are you preparing for the next season? Do you tithe and save regularly?
This article on ants and their ability to prepare for different seasons is both insightful and practical. I appreciate how it draws parallels between their behavior and the importance of saving and planning for the future. It’s a great reminder for all of us to be prepared for the unexpected. With that in mind, what are some practical steps you have taken to ensure you are prepared for different seasons in your own life?
Praise God!
We tithe and save every month. When we first got married, we paid off all the debt that my husband accumulated. From that point on, we lived below our means. This meant we always put money aside for the unexpected and also for bills that were not monthly. For example. that helped us to have the money to pay for a car repair when it was needed. We don’t use credit card to pay for something we can’t afford today.
I encourage you to check out Dave Ramsey’s website and his TBN program for a lot of good suggestions on how to take baby steps towards financial freedom.
Thanks for asking.