Proverbs 6:6-11

The point: Be humble enough to learn lessons from ants, as God directs.

Martin uses the hypothetical scenario of someone going to an anthill for instruction instead of a university professor to illustrate the humility required to learn wisdom from God's creation, specifically the ant.

Now you see right at the outset. Nobody can be truly wise who's not ready to be humbled. If someone was on his way to a given place and someone said, hey, Henry, where are you going? He said, I'm going to school.

0:45 - 0:56 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He describes the sluggard's characteristic response of wanting 'yet a little sleep, a little slumber,' highlighting the deceptive nature of small, incremental idleness.

The sluggard's excuse of 'just a little sleep' is contrasted with a bear's hibernation, clarifying that the sluggard doesn't intend to be perpetually lazy but rather indulges in small, frequent periods of idleness.

And the answer comes back, yet a little sleep. Just a little slumber. A little folding of the hands to sleep. In other words, I don't intend to hibernate all winter like a bear.

4:05 - 4:19 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He's saying you must look upon this matter of laziness and the picture of the sluggard as that which is utterly destructive. Though the destruction is by degrees and imperceptible at any given point, the end result is as…

The consequences of laziness are vividly compared to a sudden, violent robbery or an armed man stripping one of possessions, emphasizing the devastating and inevitable outcome of idleness, even if it unfolds gradually.

So shall thy poverty come as a robber and thy want or thy need or thy lack as an armed man. He says that laziness that says just a little more sleep when you ought to be working. A little more slumber when you ought to be diligent and active in your legitimate calling. And the end result will be as devastating as if someone came into your home and robbed you in a moment of time of all of your assets.

4:40 - 5:13 Read in full sermon

The point: Teach your kids about diligence and not giving in to 'just 15 more minutes' of idleness.

Martin provides a concrete example of children asking for 'just 15 more minutes' in the pool, illustrating how giving in to such requests fosters sluggardliness in them.

Now that's what you've got to teach your kids. When they say, but oh mommy, just 15 more minutes in the pool. You say, no. Our schedule for the summer was in the pool from 10 to 11 after we'd done some work in the garden from 9 to 10.

6:01 - 6:17 Read in full sermon