Daily Devotional for March 11, 2019

Go to the Ant

Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids
Keys for Kids – daily devotions and Bible stories for kids
Go to the Ant
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Today's Verse

Proverbs 6:6-11 in KJV, NKJV, NIV, ERV

Bible version changes do not affect the Key audio or "Today's Key Verse," below.

“Mom, what’s a sluggard?” Mark asked, looking up from his Bible club book.

“It’s someone who’s lazy,” Mom replied as she peeled potatoes. “Did you talk about sluggards at Bible club today?”

“No, but I think we will next week. We have to learn a verse about them. A verse about sluggards and ants.” Mark frowned. “Are ants lazy?”

“Oh no! Just the opposite,” Mom answered. She washed and dried her hands. “Come outside with me. Grab a cookie to bring along. We need some crumbs.”

Mark looked at her in surprise, but he did as he was told.

“I see a few ants over there,” Mom said as they stood in the driveway. She pointed to a crack in the concrete. “Put some cookie crumbs down there.”

“Why are we feeding the ants?” Mark asked as he put several crumbs on the pavement. As he watched, an ant found a large crumb, lifted it up, and carried it away. “Wow! That ant carried a crumb three times its size,” he said in surprise.

Mom nodded. “Did you know that ants can carry things up to fifty times their weight? And that they’ll continue working as hard as they can until they’ve gathered as much as possible? They don’t seem to ever think about themselves, but only about the colony. If they could talk, I don’t think you’d hear them say things like, ‘I’m too tired—can’t somebody else do it?’ Or, ‘I don’t feel like doing this!’”

Mark blushed, remembering how he was supposed to sweep the garage when he got home but had suggested his brother do it instead.

“Ants are a good reminder of the attitude toward work we’re supposed to have as Christians,” Mom said. “Instead of being lazy and only thinking of ourselves, Jesus wants us to do the work He gives us for the benefit of others. But unlike ants, we don’t have to do the heavy lifting on our own—He helps us and gives us the strength we need. We just have to be willing to do it.”

“Okay, Mom, I hear you.” Mark headed for the broom beside the garage door. “I’ll sweep the garage for you—and for Jesus!” – Abigail Williams

How about you?

What kind of work habits do you have? Are they like those of an ant—or a sluggard? Sometimes it’s hard to do our work willingly and without complaining, but remember that Jesus will give you strength so you can help others and show them His love. Trust Him to help you do the work He gives you and use it for the good of many people—including you!

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