Wisdom Learned from the Animals

Text: Proverbs 2:1-6

 

I.         The Lord God teaches us wisdom

            A.        His teaching comes in a variety of forms. We read His words and learn about right and wrong

            B.        But God’s teaching doesn’t end there. Even in the world around us, through the creation of God, God is instructing us - Romans 1:20

            C.        Agur, the son of Jakeh, by inspiration left us words of wisdom. Many of them in the form of lists - Proverbs 30:24-28

II.        The Ant

            A.        Ants are small, weak creatures. We can crush hundreds beneath the soles of our feet.

            B.        Yet the ant survives. How? Through preparation. - Proverbs 6:6-8

            C.        The ant uses the opportunities that are available to prepare for difficult times.

            D.        We have limited time to make preparations - Job 14:1-2

            E.        Some prepare, but for the wrong things - Luke 12:15-21

                        1.         The thing that was most important, where he would spend eternity, was not planned. He made no preparations, perhaps thinking he had plenty of time to do so later.

                        2.         In other words, he past up the opportunity to prepare.

                        3.         It is so easy to focus on the immediate needs and not look ahead - James 4:13-17

                                    a.         Notice it is a sin to pass up the opportunity to do what is right.

            F.        Eventually the time to prepare moves by.

                        1.         Israel had many opportunities to serve God, but chose to serve idols.

                        2.         Eventually, the opportunity to make amends ends - Jeremiah 8:20

                        3.         Eventually all of us reach the point of no return - Job 16:22

                        4.         It is the point of Jesus’ parable - Matthew 25:1-13

III.       The Coneys

            A.        Some translations will say rabbit or rock badger. A coney is a small rabbit-like mammal more formally called the Syrian rock hyrax.

            B.        It doesn’t trust in its own strength, but lives among the rocks for protection - Psalm 104:18

            C.        Far too many people are confident in their own abilities

                        1.         Only a fool trusts in himself - Proverbs 28:26

                        2.         Proverbs 3:5 - Don’t lean on your own understanding

                        3.         Jeremiah 9:23-24 - Boast not in our abilities, but in our God

            D.        God is our rock

                        1.         God is our refuge - Psalm 62:5-8

                        2.         Trust in our rock - Isaiah 26:3-4

IV.      The Locust

            A.        A locust is a insect only about 3 inches long.

            B.        Without any organization or ruler, swarms of locust can cover wide areas and completely devour all plants. They are more destructive than an army.

            C.        How is it accomplished? They show the strength of unity.

                        1.         The day of God’s judgment is described as a locust swarm - Joel 2:1-11

                        2.         Working together provides strength beyond the individual members - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

            D.        That is why unity is urged among brethren. Satan can pick us off one-by-one, but united we are a formidable army

                        1.         I Corinthians 1:10 - let there be no divisions

                        2.         We must work to preserve the bond of peace between us - Ephesians 4:1-3

                        3.         Divided, we cannot stand - Matthew 12:25

            E.        Much can be accomplished with united effort

                        1.         The walls of Jerusalem were restored in an amazingly short time, even while under threat - Nehemiah 4:6; 6:15-16

                        2.         We are the locust raiding the fields of Satan. Oh, what we can accomplish if we have the mind to work!

V.        The Lizard

            A.        Some translations say spider (this is the only verse where this word is used). Either way, the same point can be made.

            B.        In warm regions, lizards are found everywhere. Even though they are easily caught, they still reappear. Even a king’s palace is not free from them.

            C.        How? Persistence.

            D.        We understand that trials mold us, but we cannot give up under trial - Hebrews 12:5

            E.        We cannot give up in doing good - Galatians 6:9-10

            F.        We cannot become tired of teaching the truth - II Corinthians 4:1-2

            G.        Our labor is not useless - I Corinthians 15:58

            H.        There is a reward awaiting those faithful unto death - Revelation 2:10

VI.      Do you show the wisdom displayed by even God’s smallest creatures?