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.
How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
Proverbs 6:6-11
God made mankind uniquely in His image, but all of creation bears His signature. Wisdom means learning out to read it. The ants show us how to work. They’re not slaves who are forced to labor but gladly use their strength, which they have in spades. Ants can carry between 10 and 100 times their body weight, impressive next to strong man who can deadlift 2-3 times his weight. They also work smart, gathering supplies in summer and food during harvest. The sluggard hasn’t learned this and loves to sleep. He’s not worried about because nothing too bad has happened. Then suddenly he gets sacked, the car repo’d, and the house foreclosed. These are usually a long time coming for those with prudence to look ahead, but the sluggard can’t be bothered until he gets mugged by poverty. God made the world this way and it’s important to let consequences fall on people who need to learn, especially children. Students who procrastinate and then suddenly find themselves with 14 huge deadlines and no time should be bailed out. Figuring out how to work (even during summer!) and put in long hours in harvest season sets up a life of success.