Animal Wisdom (2)

The Road of the Wise

Imasdov;ivn Gyntaninyren

Imasdovnin Jampan

Proverbs 6:6-11

We have two kings yet very different. We are talking about Saul and David.

Saul was a king only in appearance. He was good-looking and tall, but only in appearance, not in the heart.

-He was a king when he had an army around him. He always needed recognition by the people. He was insecure and, like the rooster, a king only around his army.

-He was always suspicious, even from his immediate family members.

-He did not seek God in his decisions. He thought he knew everything and was in charge of everything. He was facing the giant Goliath and was afraid.

David on the other hand, was ready to face a giant, like Goliath. He did not have a great appearance; he was young. Even Prophet Samuel did not recognize this young boy in the beginning. He thought God would choose one of his brothers. But God looks at the heart.

“Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”(1 Sam 16:7)

Let appearances not deceive you. David trusted God, and not the arms. He trusted God and gave the credit to God and not on his own wisdom or might. We need to learn this daily. Graduates, you did receive a diploma, but learn to trust God in your achievements and not in your wisdom.

David faced a giant. What kind of giants you are facing today?

New school? New job? New environment? No school? No financial security? Uncertainty? What is the “giant” that is bothering you?

Learn to be a “king”. We are called into the royal priesthood, into the holy nation; we are sons and daughters of the King. Walk in confidence and not in anxiety and fear.

Once I heard a preacher describing the difference between Saul and David.

“Saul was a king because he had an army around him. David was a king because he led an army to victory.”

Major difference between these two kings.

2. The Ants

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” (6:6-8)

Last Sunday I attended a Baptist black church in East Palo Alto. Great worship, a lively choir and good music. It was Father’s Day, and the preacher was giving examples from their daily life. He talked to the fathers saying, “If you sleep lazily at home and wait for checks to come, guess what, someone else will sleep like you in your room and will be lazy waiting for a check to come. That is your son or daughter.”

“It is better to have a McDonald’s check than illegal money from marijuana.”

The sluggard will find a way to blame someone, or to become a leech feeding on someone else. He does not want take any responsibility.

“The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!” (Prov. 26:13)

“How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber…” (Prov. 6:9-10)

The sluggard will find some kind of excuse to not act, to not work. “Well, there is a lion in the street.” Of course there is lion in the street. Therefore we will prepare to face the “lion” in the street.

Christ prepared us. He never promised that our life would be easy. There will be “lions” waiting in the street, but be ready to face the giants. Jesus sent his disciples two by two to all over to preach the gospel. There were lions in the streets and some were even killed. But the Good News of the Gospel spread all over the world.

What can we learn from the small animals called ants?

1. They work without supervision.

The ant is a small insect that knows the importance of hard work. Without a chief or officer, ants will work.

As parents, we try our best to teach our children. We try to observe, lead and teach knowing that one day they will be on their own, without our supervision. This is especially applicable for the students who go away from home and in live in the dormitories. No parental supervision. You need to set your priorities for your time and work hard.

2. They plan for the future, knowing that there is certain time for collecting food to survive through the cold winter.

Wise is the person who takes time seriously, who knows when to work and when to rest.

God gave us time, life, opportunities to serve, learn, worship, pray, study, love, care. We need to use these opportunities wisely. Graduation is an opportunity to move on, and find new “labor”.

Lately someone sent me Steve Job’s commencement address at Stanford. The speech is a secular one. I don’t know about his faith. Yet he gives three important points that I felt I could share with you all.

1. Connecting the dots 2. Love and loss 3. We all will die one day

Watch the video.

He is not a Christian, but I can see how he is struggling in life trying to find meaning. He faced failures many times, but worked hard to overcome them. He looks back and connects the dots. He was diagnosed with cancer; he faced death, and found out that life is too short.

I wish someone would tell him about Jesus. I wish he could find a new meaning in Christ.

What did Jesus say to his disciples?

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus gives us a labor and also gives us rest. Jesus gives us challenges of life also gives us wisdom to face them.

David was a young boy. Ants are small animals. David became a king like a LION. His strength was in trusting God. Wisdom was in the fear of the Lord.

Let us walk in confidence trusting Him. Let us be courageous. There will be dangerous lions on the street. Let us go to labor and work; we can find rest in Christ whose yoke is easy.

Amen