Learning from the Wisest Ant

Proverbs 30 is full of nature! Not to mention a fun 1-2-3-4 pattern going on:

“Three things are never satisfied; four never say, ‘enough’: Sheol, the barren womb, the earth ever thirsty for water, and the fire that never says, ‘enough.’”

Verse 18 continues:

“Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: the way of the eagle in the sky, the way of the snake on a rock, the way of a ship on high seas, and the way of a man with a girl.”

And again in verse 24:

“Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceeding wise: the ants are a people without strength, yet they provide their food in the summer; the badgers are a people without power, yet they make their homes in the rocks; the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; the lizard can be grasped in the hand, yet is found in kings’ palaces….Three things are stately in their stride; four are stately in their gait: the lion, which is mightiest among wild animals and does not turn back before any; the strutting rooster, the he-goat, and a king striding before his people.”

Here’s a few thoughts that came to mind when reading these passages: the main one being a theme of HUMILITY:

• No matter how hard we strive to care for this world, it will never be enough until Christ comes back. That doesn’t mean we don’t try. It just means we aren’t God, this world isn’t perfect and there will always be some hurt and hardship.
• We are called to look after this world, yet we may never quite fully know everything. That doesn’t mean don’t seek after knowledge! Just realize that some things are too wonderful for us to understand and we may not find the answer in our lifetime.
• The small things of this world are wise. If we’re too stupid to even notice them, how can we learn from them? Don’t be a fool. Humble yourself, study the ant and learn.

Peace, Justice and Human Rights

I’m trying to read one proverb a day. And when I get through them all, I go back to the beginning and read it all again.

Today I read Prov 29:4 which states,

“By justice a king gives stability to the land, but one who makes heavy exactions ruins it.”

At first glance, it appears this proverb is geared towards rulers and subjects.

But doesn’t this also prove true of the land? We are called to care for this world and bring about justice – but when we make heavy exactions on it (ie: excess trash/rubbish/pollutants/overhunting/over growing/etc…) the land is ruined. Just take a look at these pictures if you don’t believe me.

There is definitely no justice here, no stability. Only heavy exactions and ruin.

46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile.

Chinese scientists have warned that the country’s toxic air pollution is now so bad that it resembles a nuclear winter, slowing photosynthesis in plants – and potentially wreaking havoc on the country’s food supply.

the effects of man-made garbage on albatross’ living 1,200 miles away from civilization.

Chinese scientists have warned that the country’s toxic air pollution is now so bad that it resembles a nuclear winter, slowing photosynthesis in plants – and potentially wreaking havoc on the country’s food supply.

Chinese scientists have warned that the country’s toxic air pollution is now so bad that it resembles a nuclear winter, slowing photosynthesis in plants – and potentially wreaking havoc on the country’s food supply.

46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile.

Every 15 minutes, 1 elephant is killed by poachers for their ivory tusks. And in Asia, human-elephant conflicts often lead to locals poisoning elephants.

When oil sticks to a bird’s feathers, it causes them to mat and separate, impairing waterproofing and exposing the animal’s sensitive skin to extremes in temperature. This can result in hypothermia, meaning the bird becomes cold, or hyperthermia, which results in overheating. Instinctively, the bird tries to get the oil off its feathers by preening, which results in the animal ingesting the oil and causing severe damage to its internal organs.

46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile.

Vs. 7 continues:

“The righteous know the rights of the poor; the wicked have no such understanding.”

Again, there’s a double meaning. We are called to care for the poor among us. Yet, the plants and animals of this world are also the poor among us that we are called to care for – and most often instead of caring for these, we greedily exploit them for our own gain. And turning a blind eye to creation care as a Christian is like the wicked with no such understanding.

If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men. -Francis of Assisi