3 Life-changing Wisdom Principles from the Ant

The way our world is designed makes everything in it a source of wisdom for any discerning mind. Everything we see runs on laws and principles that if applied to human living will yield the same results.

The trees, plants, animals both on land and in the sea, the weather, and everything in God’s universe all contains lessons for our gain. One of such creatures we can learn from is the ant.

Why the Ant?

The ant is a little insect, so tiny that it can be swept away with a single flick of a finger. Yet, it’s a very powerful creature. Perhaps ants know they cannot survive for long as individuals and that’s why they move in groups and live in a colony.

The ant is industrious and strong – it can carry an item fifty times its own weight. Except for hostile regions such as Antarctica, nowhere on earth the ant has not colonised. Their taking over the world is a result of their social organisation, division of labour, communication and other skills.

Except for hostile regions such as Antarctica, nowhere on earth the ant has not colonised as a result of their social organisation, division of labour, communication and other skills. Click To Tweet

Several innovations, philosophy, cuisines and other things have been created by observing or using the ant. If all these are not enough reasons to take lessons from the ant, even the bible commands us: Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-8)

Below are 3 out of the 14 lessons I have learned from my study of the ant.

Wisdom #1: Understand Purpose

A careful observation of the ant will show you that it never does anything just because, rather every single effort of the ant is for a reason. The ant understands its purpose. It’s one creature that knows its purpose very clearly and is certain about its mission in life.

The ant knows it’s created to gather and store food and that it cannot do everything. If an ordinary ant understands its purpose, how much more you who is created in the image of God?

What is driving you? What do you want to be known for? What will you be remembered for? Like Martin Luther King Jr. said, “If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” Click To Tweet

What is driving you? What do you want to be known for? What will you be remembered for? Like Martin Luther King Jr. said, “If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”

Like the ant, know your purpose and assignment in life.

Wisdom #2: Use your Imagination

Ants have no guide, overseer or ruler. Who then guides the ants to discover food particles? Who exercises control over the ant to ensure it works? Who rules over this little creature to compel it to keep part of what it gathered in summer for the winter period?

The answer is imagination. The ant relies on its God-given gift of imagination to know where to find food particles and how to gather and store food in summer for the winter season. If you are a child of God, your thoughts and imaginations would often be in line with the purpose of God for your life.

Like the ant, follow your thoughts and imaginations to accomplish your purpose in life.

Wisdom #3: Focus on your Goals

To focus means to concentrate, pay undivided attention, lose interest in other things, and reserve your interest for your purpose.

The ant is a master of focus. It’s not easily distracted, even in the face of danger and deliberate attack. The ant has a remarkable ability to focus and move with full concentration when gathering food in the plenteous season against a period of lack.

Your life can’t change positively if you’re not determined to accomplish your goals despite challenges that may come your way. When you’ve defined your purpose and envisioned a great future through your imagination, then you must focus on seeing it through.

When you’ve defined your purpose and envisioned a great future through your imagination, then you must focus on seeing it through. Click To Tweet

Like the ant, focus on your goals until you achieve them.

Conclusion

The wisdom of the ant is beyond the three listed in this article.

If you however want to know more about how you can change your life with lessons gotten from my study of ants, I have written a book on it called The Wisdom of the Ant: 14 Transforming Lessons of Life.

You can grab a copy here or on Amazon.