WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.500 Well, this morning as we open the Word of God, we're going to consider some of his words of great wisdom. 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:09.460 Over the past few weeks, I've been reading through the story of King Solomon, 00:00:10.419 --> 00:00:16.740 just in my own personal Bible reading, and some of Solomon's words of wisdom. 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:20.059 Maybe you know the story of King Solomon. 00:00:21.400 --> 00:00:28.000 King Solomon was the son of King David, and Solomon lived about a thousand years before Jesus was born. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:33.659 From our day today, 3,000 years ago, since Solomon lived and was king. 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:39.519 And it's not often someone that we talk about, but Solomon was one of the greatest kings who ever lived. 00:00:40.219 --> 00:00:41.780 I love how his story begins. 00:00:42.700 --> 00:00:49.439 In his early years as king, Solomon had a real heart for God, just like his dad did. 00:00:50.179 --> 00:00:53.219 One day after he became king, he went up to a place called Gibeon. 00:00:53.219 --> 00:00:56.340 And there at Gibeon was where the tabernacle was set up. 00:00:56.340 --> 00:01:03.360 And it's recorded that he offered a thousand burnt offerings to the Lord in one day. 00:01:04.140 --> 00:01:06.840 A burnt offering was a sacrifice of an animal to God. 00:01:07.600 --> 00:01:10.800 And I won't get into talking about the sacrificial system this morning, 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:12.939 but it was a moment of worship for Solomon. 00:01:13.060 --> 00:01:16.920 It was a moment of extravagant worship that cost him greatly. 00:01:17.560 --> 00:01:19.180 He held nothing back. 00:01:19.180 --> 00:01:23.340 And that night, God appeared to Solomon. 00:01:24.140 --> 00:01:28.780 God told Solomon that he could ask him for anything that he wanted. 00:01:29.720 --> 00:01:31.860 And Solomon responded with such deep humility. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:33.720 He said to the Lord, 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:34.440 Here I am. 00:01:34.780 --> 00:01:37.380 You've made me the king of your people. 00:01:38.320 --> 00:01:41.200 And who am I to rule over them? 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:44.180 Who am I to take care of them? 00:01:44.299 --> 00:01:45.520 To oversee the kingdom? 00:01:46.299 --> 00:01:52.260 To ensure that what's good and what's right and just is done among all these people of yours? 00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:56.480 And so Solomon asked God for wisdom. 00:01:57.659 --> 00:01:59.859 He asked God for a wise and discerning heart. 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:05.439 Specifically so that he could govern and lead the people well as their king. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:13.319 And God was so deeply pleased with Solomon's request that he answered and gave him what he asked for. 00:02:14.659 --> 00:02:20.400 In fact, God made Solomon not only the wisest man who had ever lived up until that point, 00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:27.199 but he made him into an even wiser man than any future man would ever be except for one. 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:29.379 And that, of course, is Jesus. 00:02:30.620 --> 00:02:34.379 As I was reading again about some of the wisdom that Solomon had, 00:02:34.379 --> 00:02:36.379 I was astounded by it. 00:02:37.180 --> 00:02:42.500 It says he was held in awe by all the people of Israel because of his great wisdom. 00:02:43.180 --> 00:02:48.419 From the rulings and decisions he made to the way that he set up and organized the kingdom 00:02:48.419 --> 00:02:54.400 to the peace and prosperity that came to the whole nation and to everyone in it 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:56.359 because of the things that he was doing. 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:03.479 And the people, it says, they knew, they understood that it was God who had given him this great wisdom. 00:03:04.379 --> 00:03:07.219 With his wisdom, he built the temple of the Lord. 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:14.500 Probably the most beautiful, ornate, maybe even the most expensive building ever made on earth. 00:03:15.219 --> 00:03:19.319 The most holy place, kind of just an inner part of the temple, 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:23.859 was overlaid with about 21 metric tons of gold. 00:03:23.860 --> 00:03:30.040 By today's figures, that's almost a billion dollars worth of gold. 00:03:30.780 --> 00:03:33.360 Never mind the rest of the temple and its furnishings. 00:03:33.440 --> 00:03:37.300 Even the nails, apparently, in the most holy place were made of gold. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:43.080 Only the best for the place where God would live among his people. 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:47.020 And we might wonder, well, where did Solomon get all this wealth? 00:03:47.020 --> 00:03:53.740 God gave him unbelievable wisdom for trade and for foreign exchange and administration. 00:03:54.900 --> 00:03:59.219 He was so wise that he was known across the world in his day. 00:04:00.420 --> 00:04:05.680 Listen to what it says in 1 Kings 4, verse 29. 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:16.259 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 00:04:17.780 --> 00:04:21.199 Solomon's wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the east 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:23.600 and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:27.579 He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezraite, 00:04:27.960 --> 00:04:31.040 wiser than Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:33.379 I don't know who any of these guys are, personally, 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:37.760 but I'm sure that the writer is just listing off all the wisest, the best thinkers, 00:04:37.939 --> 00:04:40.060 the greatest philosophers of Solomon's day. 00:04:40.180 --> 00:04:41.640 He was wiser than all of them. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:45.080 And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:50.140 He spoke 3,000 proverbs and his songs numbered 1,005. 00:04:51.300 --> 00:04:56.700 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the walls. 00:04:56.699 --> 00:05:01.779 He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 00:05:02.719 --> 00:05:06.319 From all nations, people came to listen to Solomon's wisdom, 00:05:06.740 --> 00:05:11.300 sent by all the kings of the world who had heard of his wisdom. 00:05:13.219 --> 00:05:19.300 You may have heard the story of the Queen of Sheba traveling up from the south to pay Solomon a visit, 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:25.339 and she was just absolutely astounded and in awe by his kingdom and his wisdom. 00:05:25.339 --> 00:05:33.359 At the height of Solomon's empire, his yearly, yearly intake of gold was about 23 tons. 00:05:33.500 --> 00:05:37.579 Again, almost a billion dollars by our valuing today. 00:05:38.019 --> 00:05:41.579 And then the author is careful to remind us, well, that was just the gold. 00:05:42.039 --> 00:05:45.419 Don't forget about all his revenues from merchants and traders 00:05:45.419 --> 00:05:49.339 and from all the Arabian kings and from all the governors of all the surrounding territories 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:51.879 that he ruled over. 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:56.339 In 2 Chronicles 9, it says, 00:05:56.339 --> 00:06:00.740 He was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:04.399 All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:07.339 to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 00:06:08.100 --> 00:06:11.579 Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift, 00:06:12.339 --> 00:06:15.579 articles of silver and gold and robes, 00:06:16.100 --> 00:06:19.699 weapons and spices and horses and mules. 00:06:19.699 --> 00:06:21.379 A little further down, 00:06:21.500 --> 00:06:25.120 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:30.599 and cedar as plentiful as sycamore fig trees in the foothills. 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:34.439 Reflecting on the building of his palace, it says, 00:06:34.939 --> 00:06:40.599 Nothing was made of silver because silver was considered of little value in Solomon's day. 00:06:41.740 --> 00:06:42.339 Amazing. 00:06:42.339 --> 00:06:48.039 Apart from Jesus, Solomon was the wisest man the earth had ever known. 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:54.579 And it's because God, the one who created the universe, gave him this great wisdom. 00:06:55.579 --> 00:06:57.599 So let me ask you something this morning. 00:06:58.379 --> 00:07:00.759 If you had lived in Solomon's day, 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:08.120 And by chance, you had been given an opportunity to come to his palace 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:12.740 and to have a private gathering with him, a meeting with him, 00:07:12.819 --> 00:07:14.139 would you take that opportunity? 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:21.519 The chance to hear some of his great wisdom? 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:32.139 Well, the amazing thing is that we have the very words that Solomon spoke right here in our Bibles today. 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:35.240 And so as I read from Proverbs chapter 6, 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:37.479 I want you to imagine that that's where you are, 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:41.359 that you've been invited here this morning to Solomon's palace, 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:46.319 something that very few ordinary folk like you and me would ever get a chance to do, 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:53.060 a private gathering with the legendary, world-renowned King Solomon. 00:07:54.620 --> 00:07:56.219 What might he say to you? 00:07:58.500 --> 00:08:01.560 Imagine you're sitting there sipping a glass of something. 00:08:02.159 --> 00:08:05.860 The contents of the cup are so expensive that it's more than you can even, 00:08:06.300 --> 00:08:07.560 than your whole net worth. 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:13.860 And you look around at the palace and you see the gold-decked walls. 00:08:13.860 --> 00:08:18.980 You see all of this amazing artwork that he's collected from all over the world, 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:20.860 these amazing furnishings. 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:26.420 And you consider his great kingdom. 00:08:26.580 --> 00:08:28.040 And finally you come up with a question, 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:33.060 something that you feel, well, maybe I should ask, I could ask this. 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:36.120 Your Majesty, King Solomon, 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:42.340 how have you managed to accomplish all of this in under 40 years? 00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:46.539 It's really a question of astonishment and wonder. 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:50.960 But maybe if you're honest, you're looking for some priceless wisdom 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:53.419 to help you out in your own life. 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:58.100 And we all know the God answer to this question. 00:08:59.500 --> 00:09:01.800 Solomon has accomplished all this by his wisdom, 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:03.759 and his wisdom, as we have said, 00:09:04.180 --> 00:09:06.039 came as a special gift from God. 00:09:06.039 --> 00:09:08.959 God blessed the work of his hands, 00:09:09.259 --> 00:09:11.599 and that's how he did it. 00:09:11.899 --> 00:09:14.480 Without that, he would have just been another king of Israel. 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:19.000 And of course, Solomon would have been an arrogant fool 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:21.459 not to give God the credit and the glory 00:09:21.459 --> 00:09:24.919 for all that he had done in his great kingdom. 00:09:27.019 --> 00:09:29.339 But on a different level, from a different angle, 00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:35.019 Solomon, can you give us some practical wisdom from God? 00:09:35.019 --> 00:09:41.159 How have you accomplished all this in less than 40 years? 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:44.360 What might his response have been? 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:48.740 Perhaps it would have been this. 00:09:48.860 --> 00:09:51.960 Proverbs 6, verse 6. 00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:57.879 Go to the ant, you sluggard. 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:03.360 Consider its ways and be wise. 00:10:04.939 --> 00:10:09.240 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:12.679 yet it stores its provisions in summer 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:16.779 and gathers its food at harvest. 00:10:16.779 --> 00:10:20.519 Can you imagine that? 00:10:20.620 --> 00:10:23.339 Here you are, sitting in the presence of one of the greatest, 00:10:23.860 --> 00:10:26.139 wisest, wealthiest kings who ever lived, 00:10:26.179 --> 00:10:28.220 and you're asking him for some practical wisdom 00:10:28.220 --> 00:10:30.339 to help you be more productive in life, 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:31.740 and he basically says to you, 00:10:31.980 --> 00:10:33.959 go out into your backyard 00:10:33.959 --> 00:10:36.419 and sit down in the grass 00:10:36.419 --> 00:10:39.419 and watch some ants. 00:10:39.419 --> 00:10:44.959 If anybody else had answered your question like this, 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:46.279 you might have laughed in their face. 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:48.740 Are you kidding me? 00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:51.299 Human beings here, 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:53.740 we're the most intelligent creatures on earth. 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:56.000 You're telling me to go learn a lesson 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:57.419 from those tiny little guys 00:10:57.419 --> 00:11:00.319 that I accidentally step on in the backyard all the time? 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:01.740 That's a good one. 00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:04.899 But then you look around again 00:11:04.899 --> 00:11:07.340 and you think of this magnificent palace 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:09.860 and all Solomon has achieved. 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:13.120 Could it really be 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:15.840 that Solomon himself, 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:17.539 with the wisdom that God gave him, 00:11:17.659 --> 00:11:19.460 grew more wise 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:23.919 by watching and studying ants? 00:11:25.980 --> 00:11:27.240 You better believe it. 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:32.320 God has a way of humbling us 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:34.399 when we need to be humbled, 00:11:35.180 --> 00:11:36.240 of using the small 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:37.740 and the weak 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:39.840 and the lowly things 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.620 to humble the proud 00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:43.480 and the strong. 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:46.279 Of all the things 00:11:46.279 --> 00:11:47.700 that God commands us to do 00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:48.440 in the Bible, 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:50.700 this is perhaps one of the most surprising. 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:53.680 Go watch the ants, 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.220 he says. 00:11:55.220 --> 00:11:56.980 And of course, 00:11:57.019 --> 00:11:58.480 he doesn't mean just go look at them. 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:00.440 I think most translations get it right 00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:01.480 when they say, 00:12:01.800 --> 00:12:03.060 consider its ways. 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:04.300 Consider. 00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:06.500 Yes, watch them, 00:12:06.580 --> 00:12:07.879 but also think about them. 00:12:08.540 --> 00:12:10.980 Reflect on what they're doing. 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:11.879 Ponder them 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:15.200 and learn wisdom from them. 00:12:16.940 --> 00:12:18.480 And then Solomon gives us 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:19.920 just enough of a tidbit 00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:20.940 of what he's seen 00:12:20.940 --> 00:12:22.519 from watching the ants 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:23.720 to get us started, 00:12:23.720 --> 00:12:26.960 to whet our wisdom appetite. 00:12:28.680 --> 00:12:29.340 He says, 00:12:29.420 --> 00:12:29.720 you know, 00:12:30.460 --> 00:12:31.740 ants have no commander, 00:12:32.560 --> 00:12:33.860 no overseer, 00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:35.360 no ruler. 00:12:36.040 --> 00:12:37.060 You'll never see 00:12:37.060 --> 00:12:38.120 some of the ants 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:39.100 just kind of standing 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:40.040 on the side 00:12:40.040 --> 00:12:42.139 as the worker ants go by, 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:43.700 making sure that all the ants 00:12:43.700 --> 00:12:44.879 are doing their jobs. 00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:46.820 And if one of those ants 00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:48.080 decides to get out of line 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:48.860 and slack off, 00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:49.480 you'll never see 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:50.440 one of them go over there 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:51.840 and smack it on the abdomen 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:53.139 and say, get back to work. 00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:56.280 You'll never see that with ants. 00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:57.759 They just do their jobs 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:01.080 when nobody is looking. 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:04.139 Now we might wonder why. 00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:07.500 Well, it's beyond us 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:08.100 to figure out 00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:09.000 what really goes on 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:09.960 in the brain of an ant 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:11.899 or if they even have motivations. 00:13:12.800 --> 00:13:13.860 But let's consider 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:14.460 for a moment 00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:15.160 with Solomon 00:13:15.160 --> 00:13:15.980 the challenges 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:17.460 of the ant. 00:13:17.460 --> 00:13:18.840 He says, 00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:20.139 it stores its provisions 00:13:20.139 --> 00:13:20.860 in summer. 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:23.500 And so we think 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:24.360 of the challenge 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:26.160 of winter. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:29.759 How do those little critters 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:32.360 survive up to six months 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:33.800 of that? 00:13:37.920 --> 00:13:39.000 Canadian winters. 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:40.620 Think about this 00:13:40.620 --> 00:13:41.400 from the perspective 00:13:41.400 --> 00:13:42.200 of an ant. 00:13:43.900 --> 00:13:44.879 Six months of that 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:45.440 must be like 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:46.660 an ice age to them. 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.480 Those piles of snow, 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.220 those drifts 00:13:50.220 --> 00:13:51.700 must be like 00:13:51.700 --> 00:13:52.980 Everest's 00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:53.760 to them. 00:13:55.040 --> 00:13:56.060 The whole world 00:13:56.060 --> 00:13:57.100 becomes a frozen, 00:13:57.660 --> 00:13:58.980 barren wasteland. 00:14:00.180 --> 00:14:00.980 And not only 00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:01.940 is the cold a threat, 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:02.720 but the scarcity 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:03.780 of food is a threat. 00:14:05.220 --> 00:14:06.280 In order to survive 00:14:06.280 --> 00:14:06.680 the winter, 00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:07.600 the ants must make 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:09.380 some serious preparations. 00:14:10.980 --> 00:14:11.920 They must prepare 00:14:11.920 --> 00:14:13.020 a fully functional 00:14:13.020 --> 00:14:14.220 underground bunker 00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:16.120 and it's got to be 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:16.860 fully stocked 00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:17.399 and supplied 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:19.200 to go all those 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:19.580 months. 00:14:20.060 --> 00:14:20.800 They've got to get 00:14:20.800 --> 00:14:21.320 enough food 00:14:21.320 --> 00:14:22.040 to survive 00:14:22.040 --> 00:14:23.620 that whole long 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:24.000 period 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:25.180 even before it 00:14:25.180 --> 00:14:25.600 starts. 00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:28.080 And not only that, 00:14:28.800 --> 00:14:29.879 think of it in terms 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:30.540 of the number 00:14:30.540 --> 00:14:31.200 of mouths 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:32.060 to feed. 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:33.920 Apparently the 00:14:33.920 --> 00:14:35.060 smaller ant colonies 00:14:35.060 --> 00:14:36.120 have about 500 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:36.840 ants in them, 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:38.160 but they can go up 00:14:38.160 --> 00:14:39.019 to 10,000. 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:40.759 And I never knew 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:41.700 this before this week, 00:14:41.700 --> 00:14:42.720 but they can even 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:43.820 group with other 00:14:43.820 --> 00:14:44.680 colonies to form 00:14:44.680 --> 00:14:45.480 super colonies 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:46.240 in the millions 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:48.560 in some places. 00:14:50.920 --> 00:14:51.440 500, 00:14:51.900 --> 00:14:52.400 let's go with 00:14:52.400 --> 00:14:53.020 the small number, 00:14:53.140 --> 00:14:54.280 500 mouths 00:14:54.280 --> 00:14:54.860 to feed 00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:55.980 for six months. 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:57.940 It's not a perfect 00:14:57.940 --> 00:14:58.820 analogy because 00:14:58.820 --> 00:14:59.560 ants don't eat 00:14:59.560 --> 00:15:00.259 or function like 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:00.580 we do, 00:15:00.660 --> 00:15:01.420 but just imagine 00:15:01.420 --> 00:15:03.080 trying to meal plan 00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:05.080 for 500 people 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:07.800 for six months 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:09.539 in an underground 00:15:09.539 --> 00:15:10.099 shelter 00:15:10.099 --> 00:15:12.099 with no contact 00:15:12.099 --> 00:15:12.839 with the outside 00:15:12.839 --> 00:15:13.199 world, 00:15:13.319 --> 00:15:14.319 no grocery stores 00:15:14.319 --> 00:15:15.059 to go shopping 00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:15.359 at. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:17.500 That's going to 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:18.559 take some serious 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:19.339 planning and 00:15:19.339 --> 00:15:20.319 preparations to get 00:15:20.319 --> 00:15:21.120 the whole colony 00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:22.740 of 500 up to 00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:24.299 10,000 through 00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:24.599 that. 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:26.559 No wonder they 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:27.539 work almost 00:15:27.539 --> 00:15:28.859 non-stop from 00:15:28.859 --> 00:15:29.759 the time that the 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:30.819 snow melts to 00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:31.419 the time that it 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:32.000 falls again. 00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:33.939 If they didn't, 00:15:34.359 --> 00:15:34.819 there probably 00:15:34.819 --> 00:15:35.399 wouldn't be too 00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:35.919 many of them 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:36.299 left. 00:15:36.299 --> 00:15:38.379 at least not 00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:39.059 up here in our 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:39.799 climate. 00:15:40.719 --> 00:15:41.620 So how do they 00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:42.059 do it? 00:15:44.719 --> 00:15:45.359 It's their 00:15:45.359 --> 00:15:45.919 diligence. 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:51.899 Maybe you've 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:52.479 seen an ant 00:15:52.479 --> 00:15:53.959 doing some work. 00:15:55.099 --> 00:15:55.959 Maybe you've had 00:15:55.959 --> 00:15:56.839 ants in your home 00:15:56.839 --> 00:15:57.120 even. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.039 They're relentless. 00:16:00.099 --> 00:16:01.139 They're tireless. 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.259 They're persistent 00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:03.459 in their work 00:16:03.459 --> 00:16:04.179 all through 00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:04.759 those summer 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:05.179 months. 00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:06.259 We might call 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:06.819 them prudent. 00:16:06.939 --> 00:16:07.299 Whether they're 00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:08.479 actually planning 00:16:08.479 --> 00:16:09.219 or thinking ahead, 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:09.659 I don't know. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.399 Probably God 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:11.019 instilled them 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:11.539 with some kind 00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:12.199 of natural 00:16:12.199 --> 00:16:13.519 instinct and 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.139 programming, 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:15.219 a God-given 00:16:15.219 --> 00:16:16.339 wisdom of sorts 00:16:16.339 --> 00:16:17.079 so that they can 00:16:17.079 --> 00:16:18.219 flourish and thrive 00:16:18.219 --> 00:16:19.539 according to his 00:16:19.539 --> 00:16:20.179 good design. 00:16:20.979 --> 00:16:21.799 But it's the work 00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:22.639 itself that they 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.479 do, all that 00:16:23.479 --> 00:16:24.319 work through the 00:16:24.319 --> 00:16:25.699 summer, that 00:16:25.699 --> 00:16:26.559 ensures their 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:27.039 survival. 00:16:27.819 --> 00:16:29.519 And boy, can 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:30.679 ants work. 00:16:30.679 --> 00:16:33.099 have you ever 00:16:33.099 --> 00:16:33.839 taken the time 00:16:33.839 --> 00:16:35.039 just to watch 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:36.579 ants at work? 00:16:37.979 --> 00:16:38.799 I've had a couple 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:39.639 good opportunities. 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:41.000 When I lived in 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.539 Edmonton, I 00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:42.759 remembered just 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:43.379 marveling. 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.779 We had a giant 00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:45.899 colony underneath 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:47.959 the concrete pad 00:16:47.959 --> 00:16:48.839 in our backyard. 00:16:49.579 --> 00:16:50.339 Every time I would 00:16:50.339 --> 00:16:51.899 put the lawnmower on 00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:52.659 there and start it 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.479 up, the vibrations 00:16:53.479 --> 00:16:54.319 would send them 00:16:54.319 --> 00:16:56.059 out every side, 00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:57.199 thousands of them. 00:16:57.520 --> 00:16:58.240 It was amazing. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.200 I even tried 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:01.300 wiping them all 00:17:01.300 --> 00:17:01.759 out a couple 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:02.400 times because they 00:17:02.400 --> 00:17:03.000 were pretty close 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:03.480 to the house. 00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:04.059 I didn't want them 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:04.640 to get in. 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:06.460 And yet, it seemed 00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:07.299 like within days, 00:17:07.380 --> 00:17:08.019 I'd do it again 00:17:08.019 --> 00:17:08.940 and there's thousands 00:17:08.940 --> 00:17:09.340 more. 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:09.880 Where are these 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:10.779 things coming from? 00:17:13.120 --> 00:17:13.960 Well, one day, 00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:14.620 these ants had 00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:15.200 found something 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.240 tasty in the back 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:16.559 alley. 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.180 And I couldn't 00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:19.620 believe it. 00:17:19.660 --> 00:17:20.360 I just watched 00:17:20.360 --> 00:17:22.559 as all in a line, 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.759 about over 20 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:25.960 feet away, they 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:26.700 just marched. 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:27.740 All the way 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:29.220 out, grabbed a 00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:29.840 hunk of whatever 00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:30.559 it was, I can't 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.140 even remember. 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:32.519 It was about half 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.200 the size of the 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:33.480 ant. 00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:34.039 And then they 00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:34.720 would lug this 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.740 thing all the way 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:36.319 back to the 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:36.640 colony. 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:37.420 And they would 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:38.640 just go back and 00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:39.880 forth all day 00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:40.299 long. 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:43.400 It was amazing. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.340 You tried to put 00:17:45.340 --> 00:17:45.980 something in the 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:47.580 line, they would 00:17:47.580 --> 00:17:48.779 just go around and 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.460 get back on the 00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:50.100 line and keep 00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:50.460 going. 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:55.340 I was reminded 00:17:55.340 --> 00:17:56.140 of this all again 00:17:56.140 --> 00:17:56.900 this week because 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:57.780 some ants actually 00:17:57.780 --> 00:17:58.380 found their way 00:17:58.380 --> 00:17:59.140 into my basement 00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:00.680 this past week 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:01.759 here in Davidson. 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:03.580 I just noticed a 00:18:03.580 --> 00:18:04.120 little something 00:18:04.120 --> 00:18:05.080 scurrying across the 00:18:05.080 --> 00:18:05.519 floor in the 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:05.980 washroom. 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.240 Okay. 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.000 Then another. 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:11.420 Then another. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.519 Then another. 00:18:13.080 --> 00:18:13.440 Uh-oh. 00:18:13.840 --> 00:18:14.860 We got a problem 00:18:14.860 --> 00:18:15.180 here. 00:18:15.840 --> 00:18:17.000 I started following 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:18.000 this trail of ants 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.820 into the hallway, 00:18:20.540 --> 00:18:21.560 into my bedroom, 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:23.480 going under my bed, 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:25.019 and there's this 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:26.599 little hole by the 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:27.420 baseboard and the 00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:27.759 carpet. 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:29.279 And they, one by one, 00:18:29.339 --> 00:18:30.200 just crawling up out 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:30.539 of that. 00:18:32.339 --> 00:18:33.299 All the way to the 00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:33.960 other side of the 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:34.480 house, they were 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.460 going in the bathroom, 00:18:35.579 --> 00:18:36.120 down the hallway, 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:36.880 into the kids' 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:37.480 bedroom. 00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:39.519 And then at the very 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:40.259 end, you could see 00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:41.200 different ants kind of 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:42.380 just wandering all 00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:43.079 over the place, 00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:44.339 scouting for any kind 00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:45.200 of food to eat. 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:48.000 It's amazing. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:50.240 They were doing 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.000 that in the morning, 00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:52.380 first thing, when I 00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:53.839 saw them, and they 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:55.079 were still going hard 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:56.579 in the evening when I 00:18:56.579 --> 00:18:57.140 went to bed. 00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:58.720 Hopefully they got 00:18:58.720 --> 00:18:59.839 lots of good food from 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:00.740 the ant traps that I 00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.579 put down for them, 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.759 because I don't want to 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:05.059 have a total infestation. 00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:06.960 But amazing creatures, 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:09.079 and according to God, 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:10.000 they are creatures that 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:10.960 we're meant to learn 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:11.299 from. 00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:14.920 Go to the ant, you 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:15.400 sluggard. 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:17.480 They are an example 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:19.640 of wisdom, of 00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:21.180 diligence, of 00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:21.820 discipline. 00:19:22.380 --> 00:19:23.259 You want to accomplish 00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:24.259 more in life? 00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:27.340 Then, says Solomon, 00:19:27.600 --> 00:19:29.200 you need to work like 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:29.660 they do. 00:19:30.540 --> 00:19:31.540 You need to make the 00:19:31.540 --> 00:19:32.519 most of every 00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:34.000 opportunity you have 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:36.180 to work while you 00:19:36.180 --> 00:19:36.620 have it. 00:19:38.100 --> 00:19:39.300 So how can we apply 00:19:39.300 --> 00:19:39.920 these words? 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.759 How can we put them 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.500 into practice? 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:49.380 Well, if it's been a 00:19:49.380 --> 00:19:50.180 while since you last 00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:51.040 took some time to 00:19:51.040 --> 00:19:51.880 consider the ways of 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:52.980 the ants, I'll invite 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:54.000 you this week to even 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.600 go out and take a few 00:19:55.600 --> 00:19:56.880 minutes to do some 00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:57.500 ant watching. 00:19:57.860 --> 00:19:58.540 You're probably 00:19:58.540 --> 00:19:59.500 thinking that's funny. 00:20:00.280 --> 00:20:01.360 You can't be serious. 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.880 What a waste of time. 00:20:03.860 --> 00:20:04.800 I'm not joking. 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.840 I don't think Solomon 00:20:05.840 --> 00:20:06.460 was joking. 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.920 I think he actually 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:09.900 meant for us to take 00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:12.300 a close look and to 00:20:12.300 --> 00:20:13.540 understand the lesson. 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:15.839 So I want to encourage 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.659 you to try that this 00:20:16.659 --> 00:20:16.879 week. 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.700 And if you can't find 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.379 some ants, there's 00:20:18.379 --> 00:20:19.079 lots of them on 00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:19.359 YouTube. 00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:20.700 And there's lots of 00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:23.859 phenomenal videos just 00:20:23.859 --> 00:20:25.559 showing the kinds of 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.259 things they do. 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.960 I saw one little video 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:30.039 clip of a wasp nest 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:31.220 hanging from a roof. 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:32.839 And a trail of ants, 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:33.819 they made a bridge of 00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:35.539 themselves into the 00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.839 nest from on top of 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:37.180 the roof. 00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:37.899 And they were crawling 00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:40.639 on a chain of ants 00:20:40.639 --> 00:20:41.659 into this thing, 00:20:41.899 --> 00:20:42.680 invading the nest, 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:43.860 dismantling it and 00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:45.279 taking it back to 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:46.500 their colony for food. 00:20:47.080 --> 00:20:47.480 Amazing. 00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.920 There's other things, 00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:51.720 all kinds of things 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.140 you can see. 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:52.980 I'll let you search it 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.600 up and see it. 00:20:56.080 --> 00:20:57.140 The second thing, 00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:58.160 and this is kind of a 00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:59.140 more general principle 00:20:59.140 --> 00:20:59.820 to consider. 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:01.840 Do you know that the 00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:03.180 entire created world 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:05.900 is full of similar 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.820 kinds of lessons? 00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:10.200 God has infused all of 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:12.899 creation with his 00:21:12.899 --> 00:21:15.019 beyond measure wisdom. 00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:17.259 Everything you see in 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:19.539 nature points to his 00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:19.980 glory. 00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:22.419 Some things offer a 00:21:22.419 --> 00:21:23.879 practical wisdom lesson 00:21:23.879 --> 00:21:24.639 like this one. 00:21:25.679 --> 00:21:26.480 Others might give us 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.819 creative inspiration for 00:21:27.819 --> 00:21:29.419 our own inventions and 00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:29.919 creations. 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:32.019 Think about it. 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:33.119 this is not the only 00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:35.819 wisdom lesson in the 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:37.740 Bible that's drawn from 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.160 nature. 00:21:39.119 --> 00:21:39.900 Solomon will tell us 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.819 many more things like 00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.799 this through the rest of 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.839 his Proverbs and in 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:43.579 Ecclesiastes. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:45.500 Jesus will tell us to 00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.639 look at and consider the 00:21:46.639 --> 00:21:49.139 birds, to take a lesson 00:21:49.139 --> 00:21:50.119 from them and the 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:51.099 flowers of the field. 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:53.680 He pointed his disciples 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:56.819 to seeds, to sowing and 00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:59.599 planting, to rain, to 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:02.339 clouds, to thunder, to 00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:02.719 lightning. 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.939 The men who wrote the 00:22:04.939 --> 00:22:07.019 Psalms pointed us to the 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.899 sun, the moon, the 00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:09.279 stars, the mountains, the 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.419 seas and their powerful 00:22:10.419 --> 00:22:12.579 waves, the meadows and 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.099 the grasses. 00:22:13.399 --> 00:22:14.259 There's lessons to be 00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:15.219 learned from all these 00:22:15.219 --> 00:22:16.519 things that God has made 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:18.919 from sheep and goats, 00:22:19.879 --> 00:22:23.159 lions, the deer, and 00:22:23.159 --> 00:22:25.639 yes, even from the rock 00:22:25.639 --> 00:22:27.139 badgers that I saw at the 00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:28.319 Calgary Zoo last week. 00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:30.119 They're actually in 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:31.299 Proverbs, believe it or 00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:31.559 not. 00:22:32.659 --> 00:22:34.200 All of creation is filled 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.839 with the wisdom of God. 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.200 And so I want to 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:38.159 encourage you this summer 00:22:38.159 --> 00:22:39.939 to open not just your 00:22:39.939 --> 00:22:41.379 eyes but your hearts to 00:22:41.379 --> 00:22:42.720 that possibility, to that 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.220 reality. 00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:45.779 I want to encourage you 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:47.639 as you go your way this 00:22:47.639 --> 00:22:49.099 summer, maybe some of you 00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:50.059 are going on vacation, 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:50.919 maybe you're going to be 00:22:50.919 --> 00:22:52.000 outside a little bit more 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.700 because the weather is 00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:53.059 nice. 00:22:53.899 --> 00:22:55.399 You'll probably see lots of 00:22:55.399 --> 00:22:56.839 things but take some time 00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:58.879 to linger over them and 00:22:58.879 --> 00:22:59.980 ask God to open your 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:02.279 heart to the wisdom, to 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.339 the lessons that he has 00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:05.259 for you, even in the 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:06.799 stuff of nature which he 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.339 has made. 00:23:07.939 --> 00:23:09.099 Don't just go to the ant 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:10.959 this summer, go to all of 00:23:10.959 --> 00:23:11.220 it. 00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:15.459 But back to the ant for a 00:23:15.459 --> 00:23:15.740 moment. 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.899 None of us really wants to 00:23:19.899 --> 00:23:21.619 admit that we are a 00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:22.059 sluggard. 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:24.419 I don't even like that 00:23:24.419 --> 00:23:24.720 word. 00:23:25.659 --> 00:23:26.839 It's a pretty strong word, 00:23:26.919 --> 00:23:27.259 isn't it? 00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.700 I really like the Christian 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.460 Standard Bible. 00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:31.480 It translates it a little 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:31.879 differently. 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:33.259 It says, go to the ant, you 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:33.819 slacker. 00:23:35.099 --> 00:23:36.399 That's kind of a good 00:23:36.399 --> 00:23:37.759 modern day rendition of 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:38.039 that. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:40.119 It's a word that's sometimes 00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:41.279 used in parallel with 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:41.980 foolishness. 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:44.720 And probably none of us 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:46.259 wants to admit that we are 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:49.879 foolish or sluggardish or a 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:51.100 slacker or lazy. 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.760 But then we might wonder, 00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:56.340 well, how would I know if 00:23:56.340 --> 00:23:56.760 I am? 00:23:58.220 --> 00:24:00.360 How do you measure if you're 00:24:00.360 --> 00:24:02.800 working long enough or 00:24:02.800 --> 00:24:03.420 hard enough? 00:24:05.320 --> 00:24:06.760 We can't always trust our 00:24:06.760 --> 00:24:09.840 feelings about it because 00:24:09.840 --> 00:24:11.340 the person who's lazy is a 00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:12.700 sack of potatoes feels like 00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.960 he's doing all he can each 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:14.280 day. 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:17.100 But on the other hand, 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:18.500 must I always feel guilty 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.840 about stopping to take some 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:21.759 rest, to take a break, to 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.559 take a night off? 00:24:23.159 --> 00:24:24.359 We can't go by our 00:24:24.359 --> 00:24:24.720 feelings. 00:24:24.879 --> 00:24:26.919 And so probably the next 00:24:26.919 --> 00:24:27.899 thing that we'll do is we'll 00:24:27.899 --> 00:24:29.240 start to compare ourselves to 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:29.639 others. 00:24:31.139 --> 00:24:32.259 But even that way of 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.939 measuring is unreliable 00:24:33.939 --> 00:24:35.899 because truthfully we can 00:24:35.899 --> 00:24:37.119 all think of some people 00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:40.699 that work much harder, much 00:24:40.699 --> 00:24:41.679 longer than we do. 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:43.619 And we can all think of some 00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:44.859 people who compared to us 00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:45.859 seem lazy. 00:24:47.419 --> 00:24:48.779 Is a sluggard just someone 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:50.099 who's really lazy compared 00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:50.559 to me? 00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:54.299 If that were the case, then 00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:56.799 this advice would only be 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:58.299 for a very few people. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:02.799 Or is Solomon aiming this 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:04.420 wise advice at a mindset, 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:08.519 at a mentality, at an 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.720 attitude that any of us can 00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:10.019 have? 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:12.759 Is it possible that by God's 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:15.420 measure, I am a sluggard? 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:19.379 Are you willing to ask that 00:25:19.379 --> 00:25:20.859 question of God this week? 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:25.819 Lord, am I working long 00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:26.160 enough? 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:29.220 Am I working hard enough? 00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:32.320 Am I working on the right 00:25:32.320 --> 00:25:32.860 things? 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.500 The things that are most 00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:36.720 important in life, the things 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:37.980 that you would have me do? 00:25:39.820 --> 00:25:41.100 I want to encourage you to 00:25:41.100 --> 00:25:42.440 simply ask God some of these 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:43.900 questions this week in prayer. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:47.380 Because this is something that 00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:50.500 we need his help to see if it's 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.140 in our lives. 00:25:51.140 --> 00:25:55.259 We need his spirit to convict us 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:55.680 of this. 00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:59.360 And as we do that, let's not 00:25:59.360 --> 00:26:01.540 misunderstand the lesson from the 00:26:01.540 --> 00:26:01.860 ant. 00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:04.420 It's not that we should work 00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.940 constantly and never rest. 00:26:07.100 --> 00:26:08.460 If we're listening carefully, 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:12.180 Solomon, God is saying that we 00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:14.880 should work diligently when we 00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:16.720 have the opportunity to do so. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:20.740 Because a time or season or day 00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:23.720 is coming, may come, when that 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:25.319 window of opportunity will be 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:25.740 closed. 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.960 And we can apply this to all 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:28.779 sorts of things. 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:31.360 We could apply this to old age. 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:33.380 There comes a day when you're no 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:34.640 longer able to work like you're 00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:35.000 used to. 00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:36.420 Are you being careful to store up 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:37.640 provisions for that day? 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:40.519 Or are you going further and 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:42.299 further and further into debt? 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:44.940 We could apply this to seasonal 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.360 work. 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:47.839 We all know that feeling of the 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:49.339 leaves hitting the ground and, 00:26:49.479 --> 00:26:50.379 oh, we've got to get them up 00:26:50.379 --> 00:26:51.559 before the snow is coming. 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.599 Sometimes we need to burn the 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:54.979 midnight oil just to get things 00:26:54.979 --> 00:26:55.259 done. 00:26:56.899 --> 00:26:58.299 We could apply this to the work 00:26:58.299 --> 00:26:59.099 of any given day. 00:26:59.179 --> 00:27:00.500 There's only so much light in a 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:00.779 day. 00:27:01.379 --> 00:27:03.879 We have the opportunity to work 00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:05.419 during the day, to connect with 00:27:05.419 --> 00:27:06.879 people while they're awake during 00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.419 the day. 00:27:08.939 --> 00:27:10.759 But when evening rolls around, 00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:12.059 those doors start to close. 00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:16.700 We could apply this like Jesus did 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:19.179 to the spiritual work of meeting 00:27:19.179 --> 00:27:20.099 the needs of others. 00:27:21.179 --> 00:27:23.240 Are we making the most of our 00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:25.359 opportunity to connect with others 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:28.119 and to serve others, to reach out to 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:29.519 people who don't know Christ and 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:31.299 build relationships with them? 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:34.740 Because we know that eventually those 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:36.659 opportunities, those doors will close 00:27:36.659 --> 00:27:38.119 for one reason or another. 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:41.339 Whether the Lord takes us home or that 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:44.240 person or their family move somewhere 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:44.639 else. 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:48.800 I want to encourage you to pray about 00:27:48.800 --> 00:27:49.540 this this week. 00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:52.180 You may not need to go to the aunt for a 00:27:52.180 --> 00:27:53.960 lesson about working more hours at your 00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:57.020 job or around your house. 00:27:58.860 --> 00:28:01.780 But maybe when it comes to your spiritual 00:28:01.780 --> 00:28:06.259 life, you've been a slacker, a sluggard. 00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:09.440 Maybe you know that there's something in 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:11.300 your life that you really should be working 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:14.159 at, but you've been putting it off and 00:28:14.159 --> 00:28:15.759 putting it off and putting it off. 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:18.940 So I just want to simply encourage you to 00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:20.720 ask the Lord about this this week. 00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:23.359 And I trust that he will show you, that 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:26.539 he will show me as I ask him to what we 00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:29.440 need to hear, what is really going on in 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:30.399 our hearts this week. 00:28:30.879 --> 00:28:32.259 And the good news is this. 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:34.899 When we ask, God gives grace. 00:28:35.619 --> 00:28:36.440 He gives help. 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:40.960 He gives strength to those who earnestly 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:42.920 and humbly seek it from him. 00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:44.279 So let's do that. 00:28:45.860 --> 00:28:48.620 Lord Jesus, we thank you for this lesson, 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:52.519 this simple, practical lesson of wisdom 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:54.120 that you've put into your word. 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:58.160 God, we pray that you would put it deep 00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:58.779 in our hearts. 00:29:00.120 --> 00:29:03.579 Make us diligent in all the areas of life 00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:04.460 that matter most. 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:10.200 help us to see where we need to change, 00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:11.140 where we need to grow. 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:16.960 Open our eyes to the countless lessons 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:20.220 that you would have us learn this summer 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:23.360 through all that we see that you have made. 00:29:24.140 --> 00:29:24.960 We love you. 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:26.360 We give you praise. 00:29:26.360 --> 00:29:28.519 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:28.900 Amen.