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DEVOS February 11 & 12, 2012
PASSAGE: Proverbs 6:6-11 & Proverbs 6:30-34

Sluggards are named after a slug. Slugs are slimy, snail-like creatures that have no shell and roll along purposelessly at a painfully slow pace. And what Solomon says again and again is Don’t be like the slug. Instead, he says to be like an ant. Read Proverbs 6:6-11 & Proverbs 6:30-34.

Here’s the truth about us: we’ve all been given a vineyard or field by God. Our field is our one and only life. Our time. Our talents. Our treasures. Our family. Our relationships. Our body, mind, soul. And God has given us this “field” to work it. To develop it. To use it for some good. Everybody gets a vineyard. Everybody gets a chance. Everybody gets an opportunity. Some go all ant-like and make something beautiful with their field. Others go all slug-like and neglect their field.

Procrastination breeds procrastination. Excuses breed excuses. Laziness breeds more laziness. Before you know it, a relationship dies or an opportunity is lost or a child rebels or a bad habit is formed or a dream fades or a life is ruined.

Look back at Proverbs 6:6-8: “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE ANT? 2 things: (1) The importance of self-leadership. They take the initiative on their own. They’re self-starters. (2) The importance of delayed gratification. Even though it may be summer they carry off food for the winter and they know they have to endure pain right now in order to enjoy a pay-off later. Ants work today for tomorrow.

DEVOTIONAL POINT: So…I want us to go back to our vineyard. Our lives. I want us to look for that one area of inactivity. That one pocket of laziness. Maybe it’s a relationship that’s being ignored. Or maybe it’s my finances that are a mess. Or maybe it’s my body that I’m abusing. Or my soul…my relationship with God that’s being neglected.

There are 3 questions that I want you to interact with.1) What do I need to focus on (What’s my greatest pocket of laziness?) 2)What’s my greatest obstacle (What’s going to hold me back?)
3) What’s my first step and when am I going to take it each day or week?

Posted on Mon, February 6, 2012 by Jon Oney

4 comments (Add your own)

1. Alexandra wrote:: we get into that it is important to note the italeron between planning anda0twoa0previous a0posts, The Sluggard and The Child.a0Three weeks ago we had a good laugh looking at the Sluggard. Now the Sluggard is a
Mon, March 12, 2012 @ 9:26 AM
2. Demarlo wrote:: Sure it s fine for wealth redistribution as long as it s going to the top right Vickus? As long as a few rich guys are getting richer while the rest of us get poorer, that s okay to you, that kind of wealth redistribution works for you; right? And, what has so-called trickle down economics done for this country but trickle upwards instead. Anyone who s not at least a millionaire is losing this game and getting ripped off. The only difference between middle class conservatives and middle class liberals is that the liberals know they re being ripped off and conservatives think that they re someday going to get rich and they re still waiting after over thirty years. So in reality guys, you ve just been made a fool of by a bunch of rich guys and the politicians who serve them. But hey, don t change your mind in midstream, maybe if you hold onto to those Reaganomic theories for another thirty years it ll actually start trickling down to you. (Yeah Right!)
Sat, March 31, 2012 @ 2:12 AM
3. Makailee wrote:: - I guess there is another way of learning from ants too. You speak about how little they are but we can see the capacity they have with the size of the ant hills they make.I see this as an analogy in part to the work that you as a team are doing.In comparison to Australia you are very small as a human being but the Elijah trail and country side that you have travelled is huge much like the ant hills.I can only imagine the impact that it has had on all of those people you have met along the way and those of us who have followed your journey.Take care Fiona
Wed, April 4, 2012 @ 2:03 AM
4. Cordelia wrote:: Stephen Lewin - Yes a very poignant time remember my hard working Dad, Lionel Roy who passed away exactly a year ago. He sacrificed for his family. He was an ant carrying more than his own weight. Ps Glen and team for Australia are carrying more than their own weight they are doing this for the purposes of God for this Nation. The Elijah ride -prayer and action to see breakthrough in families (hearts turning to God and one another)that only God can bring by His Spirit working His love in our hearts. Guys go for it.
Fri, April 6, 2012 @ 11:16 PM

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