Go to the ant, you sluggard
Consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest Proverbs6:6-8
The last thing I need to tell you is to work harder! If anything, most of us work too hard!
But the ant is not only an example of hard work. There are two important aspects of ant-labour that I find helpful:
--- Ants are self-motivated
--- Ants work rhythmically
The ant does not work for a boss, the ant works because it finds meaning in that. When our work becomes slavery to a boss (who often takes the role of slave-driver) then the work experience is demeaned and impoverished. The answer is not necessarily to change bosses or jobs, but to examine the work ethic in ourselves. We have been created to find fulfilment in our work and so our enjoyment of our job is our choice and not the choice of our superiors. Our attitude is a very important part of our experience of work. We don't work for our bosses, but for ourselves and God.
The ant also works according to the seasons. There are times for hard work, and there are times to slow down. If we work frenetically all year, something will break. Either our families, or our health, but something will break. We need seasons of hard work and times of rest. If you know there is a period of rest in sight it is easier to work hard, and if there has been a time of rest we can prepare ourselves for a hectic time.
I haven't even explored the principle of teamwork which is another thing we learn from ants. But have a look at your experience of work: what are your motivation levels like and have you learned to work smart - with times of rest and times of concerted effort - just like ants do?
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
