Young Adults' Group

The Need To Be Industrious

by Pastor Mark
February 21, 2025

The challenge to be hardworking

Hard work is essential for every job and employers expect it from their workers. While it is never easy to be industrious, we cannot expect anything less of ourselves. However, we can also be lazy and choose not to work hard. We may find shortcuts in fulfilling our responsibilities or make excuses not to work as hard. Our work ethic will fall short of what is reasonably expected, and we will be unable to advance in our work and lives. The challenge is to avoid being a sluggard. Let us cultivate a mindset of working hard and fulfilling our entrusted tasks.

The example of the ant

“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,” (Proverbs 6:6)

1. The author of Proverbs was observant of the animals, even the insects around him.
2. He made a call for the sluggard to look to the ant as an example.
3. The ant is a great example of being industrious as seen in the way she works.
4. She has an inbuilt ability to work hard.
5. The sad reality is that this is not inbuild within us as human beings.
6. There is much wisdom for all of us to consider going to the ant and learn to work hard.

Lessons about working hard

1. No need for supervision

“Which, having no captain, overseer or ruler,” (Proverbs 6:7)

1. Instinctively, the ant seeks to work hard on her own.
2. She does not need someone to watch over her.
3. The problem with many of us is that we need supervision.
4. Employers are concerned with “work from home” arrangements as they do not trust workers to be fulfilling their work properly.

2. Works hard every day

“Provides her supplies in the summer,” (Proverbs 6:8)

1. The ant seeks to work hard every day during the summer months.
2. In the same way, we ought to work hard each day.
3. It should be part and parcel of the way we work.

3. Works hard for the future

“And gathers her food in the harvest.” (Proverbs 6:8)

1. The ant has the wisdom to work hard in gathering food for her future.
2. The wisdom of working hard is not for the present only but also our future.

Addressing the problem of being a sluggard

The challenge is to stop being a sluggard. We need to deal with laziness such as the problem of excessive sleep, “How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.” (Proverbs 6:9,10) There is nothing wrong with having proper sleep. But if we allow sleep to get the better of us, we will not be as hard-working as we ought to be. We would face consequences, “So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.” (Proverbs 6:11) Let us be challenged to deal with whatever problems we have, such as laziness. Let us be challenged to develop the good habit of being industrious in everything we do.

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