Two Ditches on the Road
“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:”Proverbs 6:6 (KJV)
Ambition is a road with a ditch on each side. In one ditch is laziness: neglecting the gifts and work God has given. In the other is anxious toil that never has enough. Both can be justified as being for the family, and both can rob the family.
Proverbs has a word for the first ditch: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.” Work matters. Doing nothing with what you’ve been given isn’t humility.
Ecclesiastes has a word for the second: “Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.” Two full hands and no peace isn’t a win.
The road between is faithful work with open hands. Work hard. Use your gifts. And stop when one handful with quietness is enough.
Read it yourself
Read Proverbs 6:6–11. What does the ant do without a guide or overseer?
Which ditch do you tend to drift toward?
Lord, keep me on the road between laziness and anxious toil. Teach me to work faithfully and rest in you. Amen.