Historically, lazy people have exercised little or no influence on society. There have always been those who wanted to benefit from the labor of others. These indolent people have a litany of excuses why things should be given to them and why they should not be expected to make any sacrifice. Such people want to make the minimal effort but often desire maximum benefit.
Society measures success by the amount of leisure time people enjoy. People can strive to achieve early retirement so they no longer have to work and can spend their days golfing and taking exotic vacations. It is as if the less work you do, the better your life is! But that is not the way God designed people. God created us to work. Even Adam was given work to do in the perfect Garden of Eden. We express the nature of God when we labor and are productive.
Ants are not heralded as noble beasts in the animal kingdom. In fact, they largely go unnoticed. But take time to observe an ant some day. Notice that they are constantly active. Busily working for a larger purpose than themselves. Each ant does not focus on its own interests but on the greater good for its colony. An ant’s life is fleeting, so there is no time to be idle.
Have you learned anything from this tiny insect? Is your labor as honoring to your Creator as the ant’s is? Is your life as productive? As selfless? As noble?