What does Proverbs 6:7 mean?
Pointing to the ant as an example of wisdom for its hard work, Solomon says it doesn't have any chief officer or ruler. The ant doesn't have to be commanded to work, it does so of its own accord. A worker ant is so industrious that it can carry twenty times its body weight in food back to its colony. Just a glance at an ant colony reveals how busy these tiny creatures are.Christians, too, should not need prodding or supervision to work hard. The apostle Paul admonished Christian slaves to work as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart as unto the Lord (Ephesians 6:6–7). Today, this admonition applies to Christian employees. They should work hard not just when the boss is around, but at all times, because they want to please the Lord. It's tempting to spend an undue amount of time "slacking off," or avoiding actual work, but Christians should be as industrious as the ants Solomon writes about.
Proverbs 6:6–11 turns Solomon's attention to the subject of laziness. The term translated here as "sluggard" or "slacker" implies something more than being unmotivated; it also includes irresponsibility and laziness. Such persons put themselves at risk of ruin. Even if they can get by, in the present, a lack of preparation means they will not survive a crisis. In contrast, Solomon suggests the example of the ant: a creature who works diligently and is therefore able to endure harder times.
This chapter provides teaching on two aspects of wealth management. The first is avoiding putting one's property in debt for the sake of some other person's risky investment. The other warns against laziness, indicating that it puts a person at risk for sudden ruin. Solomon then poetically explains attitudes and actions which God finds especially repulsive. Next, Solomon returns to the subject of adultery. He reiterates the inherent risks of sexual immorality, including the catastrophic consequences which it brings. That lesson continues into the following chapter.
