We can learn from little children, ants, and spiders

Published 11:54 am Thursday, July 2, 2020

BY PASTOR BRANDON YOUNG

In Proverbs 30:24-28, Solomon describes four little creatures that he considers to be wise. If there is anything we need at this moment in time, it is wisdom. The Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary defines wisdom as “knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it.” I can remember this passage of scripture as a child being preached in church. I recently revisited and restudied this passage from Proverbs 30 for a message I preached at Harmony, and once again, it spoke volumes to me. Solomon begins with this statement in verse 24, “There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:” The word that stood out in this opening statement is “little.” Jesus also used this word quite often. He said in Matthew 18:3, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” We spend much of our lives trying to be “big” when we are commanded by Christ to become as a little child. God seeks a childlike submissiveness and meekness, a joyful childlike heart, and a childlike faith. A little child is innocent and trusting. A little child believes without complication and has not had time to allow the preconceived notions of the world to form their decision-making process. A little child receives with joy and is humble. A little child is content with the little things in life. A little child has the faith to move mountains and takes to heart God’s Word in all its simplicity. If we seek real wisdom, we must choose to become as a little child and be completely and fully dependent on God our Father!

Solomon then goes on to describe the behaviors of four small creatures in verses 25-28, and he begins with the ants. “25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;” The ants make PREPARATIONS. This is the first attribute to wisdom. We must prepare! The small ants store up their food in the summer making preparations for the dark and cold winter days. Many people have this instinct regarding material and worldly things. They make provision for the future, but in many cases the men and women who show such remarkable foresight in personal and business matters make little or no preparation for their own eternity! Jesus said in Matthew 24:44, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” He commands us to be ready. Today is the day of Salvation and we must prepare to meet our God! Have you prepared for death and for eternity?

The next creatures Solomon mentions are the conies in verse 26. Another name for the animal is the pika. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the pika is a “small short-legged and virtually tailless egg-shaped mammal found in the mountains of western North America and much of Asia. Despite their small size, body shape, and round ears, pikas are not rodents but the smallest representatives of the lagomorphs, a group otherwise represented only by hares and rabbits (family Leporidae).” The North American species and roughly half of the Asian species live in rocky habitats. We read in verse 26 that the pikas are feeble, weak and defenseless, yet they make their home in the rocks. They use the rocks for their PROTECTION. This is the second attribute of wisdom. We must find our protection in Christ as the rock. Proverbs 18:10 states, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe.” The name of Jesus alone is a place to hide from the wickedness of this world. Satan and the demons fear the name of Jesus. Psalm 32:7, “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.”

We must hide ourselves in Christ Jesus. The pika know they are unable to defeat their foes so they run into the rocks where they know they will be protected. Are you protecting your family, marriage, and life by escaping into the rock of God’s grace, mercy, and love found only in Jesus?

Solomon then mentions the locust in verse 27. “The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;” Locusts always go together and never work alone. They usually work in hundreds of thousands. They fly together and the whole sky is darkened, and when they land on vegetation every blade of grass and every bit of growth is stripped away in no time. They have no visible leader, yet they are all working with one aim and under strict discipline. They know all about PARTNERSHIP. This is the next attribute of wisdom. We must recognize our need for each other and find ourselves united for a common cause, goal, and purpose. Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs because he knew they would need each other, and he even surrounded himself with 12 men during the time of his ministry here on earth. God did not create man to be an island, and a wise man or woman will see the need to surround themselves with partners that will assist. Philippians 2:2 says, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind,” and 1 Peter 3:8 declares, “Finally, [be ye] all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, [be] pitiful, [be] courteous:” Do you recognize the importance uniting with others in your life?

The last creature that Solomon mentions is the spider. He says in verse 28, “The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.” The spider can make its way into very prominent POSITIONS. That is our next attribute of wisdom. Our position in life is important. We determine our location based on persistence, patience and perseverance. The spider will rebuild its web as often as someone comes by and knocks it down. They never quit or give up. They will endure to ensure their longevity. Quitting is the easiest thing to do. It is simple to quit on our relationships, marriage, or in any other facet of our lives. Colossians 3:1-2 says, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” The spider keeps its mind and attention on the task at hand and lets nothing distract it. We must keep our hearts and mind positioned upon pleasing the Lord and not on the things of this world. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” We must run this race with patience and endure unto the end. No matter how tough things are right now, please do not decide to give up! Are you ready to continue the fight of faith?

If we decide to prepare and protect ourselves in Christ while partnering with each other and positioning our minds, heart, and attention on the things of God, we will see the effects of wisdom in our lives. It is dangerous and deadly to live as a fool. May God help us all to be more the ant, pika, locust, and the spider; minuscule creatures with mighty wisdom!

(The Solution Column is provided by Pastor Brandon Young of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church, Hampton, and his associate, David Odom.)