🐜“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” – Proverbs 6:6–8
“Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up
their food in the summer.” – Proverbs 30:25
Ants are mentioned in the Bible twice, both times in the
book of Proverbs (Proverbs 6: 7-8 and Proverbs 30: 25). Ants don’t wait for a
supervisor—they work together, prepare ahead, and carry loads no single ant
could manage alone. In the devotional “Finding Wisdom in the Proverbs,” author
Ray Pritchard shares a real-world example: one summer day, he saw an army of
ants carrying an earthworm. No single ant could carry it alone, but together
they accomplished the task. Their teamwork and preparation were key. Solomon, a
King in the Bible and believed to the be the writer of the Book of Proverbs,
points out that ants have no supervisor or manager, yet they work diligently
and prepare for the future. Despite their small size and limited strength, they
store enough food to survive the winter.
As sports officials, we carry individual responsibilities
such as studying rules and video, staying physically fit, and caring for our
families. But we also function as part
of a crew. Like ants, we shouldn’t wait for someone to prompt us on what to do.
We must be proactive and look for ways to support the crew. Don’t wait to be given
an assignment. Take initiative. Anticipate needs. Act in advance. Offer to lead
pregame topic, pull video on play situations, or quiz the crew on rules.
Just as the ants carried the earthworm, the best officiating
crews are carried by each member working together. In a crew of officials, no
single official can officiate the game alone as effectively as the full crew.
The lesson is clear: we are weaker individually and stronger united.
“Carry the Worm!”
Reflect
• What
responsibilities do I have on my crew? Am I handling them well?
• Am
I taking initiative or waiting to be told?
• How
can I help my crew prepare better? Is there a role that I can lead?
Pray
• Lord,
help me be diligent like the ant.
• Give
me wisdom and courage to act.
• Unite
our crew in strength and purpose.
