Romans 12:11, Not Slothful In Business

Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

The old saying goes, “The business of the Lord requires haste.” The word “business” means “haste, diligence, earnestness”. In the parable of the talents, Jesus cited the one talent man who buried his talent for admonition in  Matthew 25:26-27  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:  27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 

We recall the Apostle Paul cited the spiritual gifts that God bestows upon His children, He now encourages them to exercise their gifts for the edifying of the body of Christ.

The ant provides for us a good example of diligence and an admonition against laziness – Proverbs 6:6-11 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. 

According to John Silling, a Purdue University entomologist, the ant is an exemplary worker.

“Basically the ant’s entire life, which can range up to seven years, is spent working,” says Silling. “They gather food, bring it back to the nest, and use it for day-to-day meals as well as to store for the winter.”

In addition, the amazing insects can be adept. Some species “gather bits of grass of leaves and take them back to their nest. On this organic matter, which is used much like fertilizer, they place tiny mushroom spores and grow them for food.”

But ants as dairy-keepers? That’s right. “Some ants get the majority of their food by ‘milking’ aphids or plant lice which are often known as ‘ant cows,’ says the scientist. The ants sometimes herd the aphids down into the ant nests at night or when it starts to get cool. Then when it gets warm again, they herd them back up to the plants.”¹

May the Lord help His people to be up and the service of the King of kings and Lord of lords this day. Amen.

¹Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.