The Ant and the Grasshopper

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"

"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."

"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; "We have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.

When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger - while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to prepare for days of need. Aesop

It’s an old story many of us heard when we were little children. The point is pretty obvious: be disciplined in getting your work done before you play. Discipline, that’s a hard word for all of us at any age. There is a powerful portion of Grasshopper in all of us that just wants to put off the tough stuff in life until another day. In no area of life is this disdain for discipline more harmful than in our relationship with Jesus.

When we’re young we’re too busy for him because we’re having fun. In middle age we don’t have time for him because we need to make money. And in later life we just don’t care any more because we’re all tired out.

This Sunday we continue our series in the book of Proverbs called The Way of Wisdom with a study on the disciplined Christian life. While discipline may not be the most attractive word in our vocabulary, it is definitely one of the most important. If the Grasshopper attitude is taking over more of you than you’d like, join us for one of our services this weekend.

Saturday evening service: 6:00 pm
Sunday morning service: 10:00 am