We tend to take our lead from the great characters and personalities of the world. But the ancient wise man Agur pointed us in another direction. In Proverbs 30, he chronicled the virtues of the low things around us: the ants, badgers, locusts, and lizards (vv.24-28).

“The ants are a people not strong,” Agur told us, “yet they prepare their food in the summer” (v.25). Ants know instinctively that winter is coming, so they take advantage of the warmer weather. They attend picnics. While you’re wolfing down a hot dog and a soft drink, they’re marching off with the potato chips. They will store them, and when the snows come, they will have enough food.

For us, the first step in “preparing for winter” is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. “Now is the day of salvation,” we are warned (2 Cor. 6:2). If we’ve already done that, as believers in Christ we have much work to do. If we display the “wisdom of ants,” we’ll prepare for “winter.” We can equip ourselves for difficult times by storing up God’s Word in our heart. Then, when we face the blizzards of life, we’ll know right where to find food for our spirit.

Next time you see an ant, remember: Winter is coming! The best time to prepare for tomorrow is today.

  — Haddon W. Robinson