We are all aware that the Global Financial Crisis has hit the world with a vengeance. It has come about mostly due to greed and the desire for more – more money, more power, more whatever…just more!
The desire to better oneself is a good motivator, but not if it is done to the exclusion of all else. At the end of the day, money, riches, wealth are fleeting ‘things’ but the actual journey in life is more important than all the things you can accumulate along the way.
Financial crisis’ will come and go. We will survive. It may be difficult, but we will live to tell the tale. We can prepare and be sustained through such events by observing Four things on earth that are small, yet they are extremely wise:
Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
Proverbs 30:25
The ant is a small in stature. Yet observing ants you will see how each has it’s own role – the queen ant/s producing the future generations, the attendant ants serving the queen in her role, the nurses attending to the eggs, the foragers in search of food, the soldiers guarding the nest from predators. Each works diligently, not just for themselves but for the whole colony.
Operating as a collective, an ant colony can achieve remarkable things, complete tasks, and solve problems that would be unimaginable for a single ant. Colonies are responsible for building elaborate nests, waging battles, and creating efficient highway systems to food sources. The collective intelligence of an ant colony can serve as inspiration to help us solve complex human problems. For example, Businesses are finding innovative ways to apply these lessons from nature, from routing trucks to managing plane congestion on the tarmac… to making Internet searches more accurate.
The secret to the ant is being diligent at what each does best, and always with the community in mind.
hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags;
Proverbs 30:26
Hyraxes are like small rock rabbits. They are community oriented. They understand the seasons in life. During summer, the rock hyrax usually searches for food and stores it. But in the winter, the rock hyrax uses basking as an energy conservation mechanism that is essential for survival. Usually, young rock hyraxes require more food during winter while adults use basking.
In the same way we too should understand the seasons in life and do what is necessary during that particular season. It can’t always be Summer time. We must be prepared for Winter and do ‘winter things’. It is not wise to do ‘summer things’ in Winter.
Predation pressure on rock hyraxes is high because they do not have significant size or weapons for defense. The only way to prevent physical harm from predators is to hide to in their rocky shelter. The kopjes must have large enough crevices for the rock hyraxes to enter, but small enough crevices so that predators cannot penetrate the shelter. Thus, rock hyraxes are vigilant animals that remain close to their shelter throughout the day. The colony is under the watchful eye of the male who warns the colony of approaching danger.
In the same way we too should stay close to home, listen to those who have our best interests at heart (ie your family, trusted friends) and build our ‘home’ as a retreat, refuge and peaceful shelter. Running off, chasing all sorts of fantasies and not looking to build your home is unwise. Here are 2 KEYS to get your every DREAM.
locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;
Proverbs 30:27
Locusts are species that can breed rapidly under suitable conditions and subsequently become gregarious and migratory. They form bands as nymphs and swarms as adults—both of which can travel great distances, rapidly stripping fields and greatly damaging crops.
What we see here is the determination and focus of the locust. It will travel great distances and is relentless in it’s purpose. There is no one to drive them on, encourage them or make them do what they do. They are self-motivated. They know what they want and pursue it.
And so it is with us. Determine a goal, a vision, a dream, a hope, a relationship, a marriage, a career, a whatever, and pursue it with all diligence. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by secondary things that will take you off on tangents.
a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.
Proverbs 30:28
Lizards are able to enter the most guarded places. It is able to slip in, under the defenses, unnoticed and move freely about where others may not. It is not afraid to go where it needs to. It poses no threat.
As it is with us, we must not be afraid to go where we must. We should not get hung up on the trappings of success and wealth and power.
We should be able to mix with both the lowly and those in high positions without prejudice or favour.
In other words, don’t treat a person differently because of their wealth (or lack of), their role (or lack of), their status (or lack of), or what they can do for you, or can’t do for you… but treat them, as any other person, as a person. Be a respecter of people. Love people for who they are as a person and not what they can, or can’t, do for you.
Yes, these 4 things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise. We could learn well from them. What do you think?