Don't Wait Until Winter

“DON’T WAIT UNTIL WINTER”

Learning Preparation from God’s Creation

Main Text: Proverbs 6:6–8 (KJV)

“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
Provideth her meat in the smmer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”

Supporting Text: Proverbs 30:24–28

Central Thought

God has placed lessons about preparation all around us. The ant gathers before winter, animals prepare before difficult seasons, farmers plant before harvest, and wise people prepare before the need arrives.

INTRODUCTION — GOD’S CREATION CAN TEACH US

Sometimes we think the only way God teaches us is through a sermon.

But God can teach us through what He created.

Jesus said, “Consider the lilies.”

He told His disciples to “Behold the fowls of the air.”

Solomon tells us:

“GO TO THE ANT!”

In other words:

“If you want to learn something about preparation, get down low enough to watch an ant!”

Imagine that.

God created human beings with intelligence, education, technology, computers, calendars, alarm clocks, weather forecasts and financial planners—

yet God says:

“There's something an ant can teach you.”

The ant doesn't have a refrigerator.

The ant doesn't have a grocery store.

The ant doesn't receive a weather forecast.

Yet when food is available, the colony gathers and stores resources for times when food will be harder to obtain.

Why?

Because wisdom says:

“DON’T WAIT UNTIL WINTER TO START PREPARING FOR WINTER.”

And that's my message today.

Somebody is living in summer right now.

Everything is going well.

You're healthy.

You have income.

Your family is doing well.

You have opportunities.

But summer doesn't last forever.

There are seasons in life.

And wise people use today's opportunities to prepare for tomorrow's possibilities.

1. THE ANT TEACHES US — PREPARE BEFORE THE NEED ARRIVES

Proverbs 6:8

“Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”

The ant doesn't wait until food becomes scarce to begin gathering.

It works while opportunity is available.

That's preparation.

The Spiritual Lesson

Don't wait until you're in trouble to learn how to pray.

Don't wait until your marriage is struggling to start communicating.

Don't wait until your children are grown to start spending time with them.

Don't wait until you're financially struggling to learn stewardship.

Don't wait until Sunday morning to start preparing Sunday's message.

Don't wait until temptation comes to learn God's Word.

Don't wait until you're sick to appreciate your health.

“Wisdom doesn't merely respond to today's need; wisdom prepares for tomorrow's possibility.”

2. THE BEAR TEACHES US — SOME SEASONS REQUIRE PREPARATION

A bear is another interesting illustration, though its biology differs from the ant.

Before winter, many bears enter hyperphagia, a period of greatly increased eating. They build fat reserves that sustain them during winter denning, when their metabolism slows dramatically and they may go months without normal eating and drinking.

The bear doesn't wait until winter arrives to build those reserves.

Preparation happens before the difficult season.

Spiritual Application

There will be seasons when you need spiritual reserves.

That's why you need God's Word now.

That's why you need prayer now.

That's why you need worship now.

That's why you need fellowship now.

David said:

Psalm 119:11 (KJV)

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Notice:

“HID IN MINE HEART.”

David stored something!

“You need to store some Word in your heart during summer because winter may require you to live on what you've stored.”

Sometimes in crisis you don't have time to search for a Scripture.

You need one already inside you.

3. THE SQUIRREL TEACHES US — STORE SOMETHING FOR LATER

Many squirrels cache nuts and seeds in different locations for later use.

They gather while food is plentiful because food availability changes with the seasons.

Spiritual Lesson

Everything God gives us isn't necessarily meant to be consumed immediately.

Joseph understood this.

Genesis 41:48–49 (KJV)

“And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities…”

God gave Egypt seven years of abundance before seven years of famine.

Joseph understood:

Abundance was preparation for adversity.

Application

When God gives you more, don't automatically increase your consumption.

Save something.

Invest something.

Give something.

Prepare something.

Learn something.

“Sometimes God's extra isn't for you to spend—it may be provision for a season you haven't reached yet.”

4. BIRDS TEACH US — KNOW WHEN IT'S TIME TO MOVE

Many migratory birds respond to seasonal changes by traveling enormous distances to areas where food and environmental conditions are more favorable.

They don't wait until conditions become impossible.

Preparation includes responding to the season.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

Some people remain in places spiritually, emotionally, or practically after God has told them:

“It's time to move forward.”

Abraham had to leave.

Israel had to leave Egypt.

Joshua had to cross Jordan.

The disciples had to leave the upper room after receiving power and take the gospel outward.

“Preparation isn't always storing something. Sometimes preparation means knowing when it's time to move.”

5. THE FARMER TEACHES US — PREPARATION REQUIRES WORK BEFORE RESULTS

A farmer doesn't walk into an empty field at harvest time and say:

“Lord, where is my corn?”

There was work required beforehand.

The ground had to be prepared.

Seed had to be planted.

The crop had to be tended.

And then there was waiting.

James 5:7 (KJV)

“Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it…”

This teaches us something important:

PREPARATION AND PATIENCE WORK TOGETHER.

You prepare.

Then you wait.

You plant.

Then you wait.

You pray.

Then you wait.

You study.

Then you wait.

You obey.

Then you wait.

“Don't dig up tomorrow's harvest because you're impatient with today's seed.”

6. THE EAGLE TEACHES US — PREPARATION INCLUDES TRAINING

Young birds do not begin life with mature flight ability. They develop strength and coordination before becoming competent flyers.

That gives us a beautiful picture.

Before you can handle certain heights, you need development.

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles…”

Sometimes we're praying:

“God, take me higher!”

And God may be saying:

“I'm strengthening your wings.”

You want the height.

God is concerned about whether you can handle the altitude.

“Don't despise the training season. God may be strengthening your wings for where He's taking you.”

7. THE HONEYBEE TEACHES US — PREPARATION REQUIRES TEAMWORK

Honeybees provide another wonderful lesson.

A colony survives because different bees perform different tasks.

Some forage.

Some care for developing young.

Some maintain the hive.

Some help regulate its temperature.

The colony stores honey that can help sustain it when flowers are unavailable.

No single bee does everything.

1 Corinthians 12:20–21 (KJV)

“But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee…”

There's a church lesson here.

The pastor can't do everything.

The deacons can't do everything.

The trustees can't do everything.

The praise team can't do everything.

The teachers can't do everything.

WE NEED EACH OTHER.

“Preparation becomes stronger when everybody does their part.”

8. THE SPIDER TEACHES US — USE WHAT GOD PUT IN YOU

This one comes directly from Proverbs.

Proverbs 30:28 (KJV)

“The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.”

A tiny creature can find itself in a king's palace.

It doesn't have great physical strength.

But it uses what God gave it.

Application

Stop saying:

“I don't have what they have.”

Maybe you don't need what they have.

Moses had a rod.

David had a sling.

Samson had unusual strength.

Dorcas had a needle and used her