Be Like Ants
1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,
2 if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth,
3 then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.
4 Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber;
5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,
8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
- Proverbs 6:1-11
Isn't it satisfying to know that people have struggled with debt for what seems like forever? It's actually really disheartening. This passage is so interesting because it's not saying to not go into debt, but not allow someone else to go into debt in your name!! Don't co-sign their debts!
At the time when Solomon was writing this, trade with Spain and Egypt was thriving. There were boundless opportunities to go into debt for people. Some people had begun to start charging interest to the poor Israelites, which was never supposed to be that way in Levitical law. It just leads to sin all around.
You could be the borrower and get yourself into trouble owing folks, especially those close to you. Yikes. You could be the lender and now have the temptation to gouge people on how much interest you are charging them, which is not generous. It's also putting yourself in a position to get really taken advantage of. No matter how you cut it, it's not a good idea.
When the author says go watch the ant hill, and not to be a sluggards, he is saying, "Get after it!" You ever seen ants work? Not the laziest creatures are they? They get after it. They grind. Zero rest until the job is done.
Then you see the slug (sluggard). They do nothing. Literally their food comes from just leeching off of other things. The laziest creatures. Not to mention slimy. Icky!
Don't be lazy. Don't be slow to get the debt paid off if you have it, and don't be slow to get your name off of someone else's debt if you're on it.
Church, the reality is finances are tricky. There's nothing that tears relationships apart faster than a financial dispute. We are called to be good stewards, not just so we are taken care of, but to help keep healthy relationships.
Imagine a world where people had their own money, and it wasn't an idol. Imagine a world that people lent money without tons of strings attached to it. Imagine a world where we lived within our means. Imagine a world that we took care of each other because of love and graciousness instead from some gain we could get.
The great thing about the Gospel is that there's no interest on the loan. It's not a loan that Jesus gives us. He just gives it fully. When he was crucified he took our debt and gave us his freedom. He has paid off your spiritual debt, church. Let that be an example of the love and grace that we should treat each other with.
Church, let's get after it. We have resources to help you if finances are an issue. Please contact myself, the Watts, an elder, or your MC leader if we can be of assistance.
I'm praying for our church today. Will you join me? Pray that we become like ants when it comes to our finances. Love you guys.
- Charlie
2 if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth,
3 then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.
4 Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber;
5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,
8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
- Proverbs 6:1-11
Isn't it satisfying to know that people have struggled with debt for what seems like forever? It's actually really disheartening. This passage is so interesting because it's not saying to not go into debt, but not allow someone else to go into debt in your name!! Don't co-sign their debts!
At the time when Solomon was writing this, trade with Spain and Egypt was thriving. There were boundless opportunities to go into debt for people. Some people had begun to start charging interest to the poor Israelites, which was never supposed to be that way in Levitical law. It just leads to sin all around.
You could be the borrower and get yourself into trouble owing folks, especially those close to you. Yikes. You could be the lender and now have the temptation to gouge people on how much interest you are charging them, which is not generous. It's also putting yourself in a position to get really taken advantage of. No matter how you cut it, it's not a good idea.
When the author says go watch the ant hill, and not to be a sluggards, he is saying, "Get after it!" You ever seen ants work? Not the laziest creatures are they? They get after it. They grind. Zero rest until the job is done.
Then you see the slug (sluggard). They do nothing. Literally their food comes from just leeching off of other things. The laziest creatures. Not to mention slimy. Icky!
Don't be lazy. Don't be slow to get the debt paid off if you have it, and don't be slow to get your name off of someone else's debt if you're on it.
Church, the reality is finances are tricky. There's nothing that tears relationships apart faster than a financial dispute. We are called to be good stewards, not just so we are taken care of, but to help keep healthy relationships.
Imagine a world where people had their own money, and it wasn't an idol. Imagine a world that people lent money without tons of strings attached to it. Imagine a world where we lived within our means. Imagine a world that we took care of each other because of love and graciousness instead from some gain we could get.
The great thing about the Gospel is that there's no interest on the loan. It's not a loan that Jesus gives us. He just gives it fully. When he was crucified he took our debt and gave us his freedom. He has paid off your spiritual debt, church. Let that be an example of the love and grace that we should treat each other with.
Church, let's get after it. We have resources to help you if finances are an issue. Please contact myself, the Watts, an elder, or your MC leader if we can be of assistance.
I'm praying for our church today. Will you join me? Pray that we become like ants when it comes to our finances. Love you guys.
- Charlie
Comments
Post a Comment