THE LITTLE ANT

Pro. 6:6-8; 30:24

There are about one million different kinds of insects in the animal world that breathe without lungs or gills, yet all have the same three body sections, six legs and antennae. I'm sure that up close, their appearance will outdo any special effect space alien. Each leg has three joints. The legs of the ant are very strong so they can run very quickly. If a man could run as fast for his size as an ant can, he could run as fast as a racehorse. Ants can lift 20 times their own body weight and carry it for about 100 yards without resting. Ants use their antennae not only for touch, but also for their sense of smell. The head of the ant has a pair of large, strong jaws. The jaws open and shut sideways like a pair of scissors. Adult ants cannot chew and swallow solid food. Instead they swallow the juice which they squeeze from pieces of food. They throw away the dry part that is left over. The ant has two eyes, each eye is made of many smaller eyes. It has been estimated that an ant's brain may have the same processing power as a Macintosh II computer. Each colony usually has only one queen but she will lay about 200 million eggs in a two month period. There are over 10,000 known species of ants. 270 species in California.

Fire Ants | Carpenter Ants | Acrobat Ants | Pharaoh Ants - Little Black Ants | Pavement Ants | Crazy Ants | Odorous House Ants - Argentine Ants | Ghost Ants | White Footed Ants | Thief Ants

Sluggard (Lazy person) Mentioned 14 times in Proverbs. Live in a society that often rewards or excuses laziness. Among other things the sluggard:

1. Loves to procrastinate 6:10
2. Fail to finish what he starts 12:27
3. Full if excuses 22:13
4. Never satisfied 13:4

ANTS ARE
1. Determined. 1 Co 15:58 Gal 6:9 A scout will often search for food until he dies.

2. Opportunistic. Leave something out on counter it is like an open door. Rev. 3:8

3. Concerned for others. One stomach holds the food for itself and second stomach is for food to be shared with other ants. Jude 1:22

4. Good Communicators If a worker ant has found a good source for food, it leaves a trail of scent so that the other ants in the colony can find the food. Mark 16:15

5. Adaptable. Change jobs for good of colony. Will work as a teacher of youth one day and as a scout another, if needed. 1 Co 9:19-23

6. Use their days wisely. The average life expectancy of an ant is 45-60 days. James 4:14 (Clock of life is ...)

7. Family oriented. Take great care of young. Often bring them to surface on warm days an allow them to enjoy sun between classes and then carry them below to protect them from cool nights. Adults will quickly give their own lives for the young. The young always eats first. Pro. 22:6

8. Disciplined. Will be expelled from colony for inappropriate behavior, improper actions or laziness. 1 Co 9:27

9. Organized. They are social insects often forming complex colonies. Some teach school, army, daycare, trash collectors, construction, scouts, laborers carrying food back. Team players. Often use their collective bodies to build a bridge to cross ditch. 1 Tim 3:15

10. Prepared. Build water tight hatches much like you would find on a ship to protect colony in case of flooding. Of course they store food in the summer for the future. Luke 12:16-20