What do you know about ants?
Well, some are big and some are small. They may be red or black or reddish black or blackish red. They may build hills, trails, or hang out in trees. They may bite like a madman or just leave you with a creepy tickle. Then, there are the ones that come into your house...
It was rather funny, if you can call it that, to see my laundry room clothes heap swarming with ants. Several squeals from my kids alerted me to the fact that they had also paid a visit to the dog bowl. With unity of mind, the critters had formed a healthy regiment from somewhere around the dishwasher and continued along the floorboards, behind the refrigerator, and around the corner into the laundry room. In the midst of contemplating a solution to this year's Third Annual Ant Infestation, my focus gave way to a softer, deeper understanding of the plight of the ant.
"Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer, and gathers her provision in the harvest." Proverbs 6:6-8
It is true that ants' ways provide an example of focus and hard work, but what I like even more are the selfless acts they pursue. For a believer and follower of Christ, we must be willing to give up our own selfish desires and allow God to lead, yes, but we also must be willing to give up our own selfish desires about the church and allow the Holy Spirit to unify our hearts to one another. Philippians 2 must resound in the hearts of all those who profess Christ as He has spoken to His church:
"If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." Philippians 2:1,2
And then in verses 3 and 4:
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."
Does this remind you of my determined visitors? They are diligently working, but for the purpose of something much greater than a single ant. Honestly, if they were just in it for themselves there would probably be no need for them to work so hard, and they for sure wouldn't thrive the way they do. So then, we see the need for unity of believers. Not that we should let down our guard lest the wolves come in to devour our fellowship, but that we seek to edify our brothers and sisters and help them carry their load-- whether that be physical or spiritual.
The defining characteristic that we share with the Father, but not with the ant is love:
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:1
The quality that we do not share with God, but rather with the ant is this:
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12
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