LEADERSHIP CAPSULE
equipping leaders with skills, weapons and tools? to provide effective leadership for nations to ultimately fulfill the Great Commission.

Thursday, 18th May, 2017

TITLE : The Leadership Lessons & Wisdom Principles From The Ants 4

#2 No Excuses For Handicaps and Weaknesses

"There be four things which are little (weak) upoun the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer." — Proverbs 30:25

"Your value or worth as a true leader is not determined by your physical strength or size but by the operation of wisdom in your life."

Go to the ant is an inspired imperative to observe and learn from nature. Ants are creatures of wisdom though small yet they possess fine leadership qualities. God has a way of using the least likely to do the almighty because greatness is not measured by size. The ants teaches us that the the scope of your wisdom is not determined by your physical size or strength.

In Proverbs 30:25, the Bible says; "The ants are a people not strong." Ants are not strong!!. I want to point out another crucial point and a great leadership lesson here to you today that will change your mindset about leadership.

Great leadership does not mean we have all our acts together. Being a good leader doesn't mean you don't have some areas where you're weak or deficient. No matter how much you think you're strong you obviously know you aren't strong in some areas. We all possess weaknesses at different levels. We all struggle with one habits or the other. A danger of teaching conferences or writing great stuffs like this one is that people start to assume you're an expert who has mastered and practice everything you teach. Don't believe it. Like you, there are principles I don't do well, so I'm still working to improve my leadership. Just like you I have weakness. This is why we should never condemn people when they blow it because everyone is still a work in progress. God is not finished with me yet!!

So the lesson i want you to learn today is ants are also weak creatures yet they accomplish so much in life. They have colonised almost every landmass on earth except areas like Antartica. Ants are creature of small strength yet they thrive in most ecosystems. In fact ants are described as superorganism by zoologist. They can survive in so many environment.

Just like the ants, Leaders should not make excuses for or focus on their handicap or weakness rather they look for ways to make their handicap work for them. The ants are creatures of small strength and definitely not strong but this handicap does not stop them from achieving their goals. The ants are naturally at a disadvantage because of their size (weakness or disadvantage) but this does not hinder them from being a great leader.

The Bible say the ants are people not strong. Isn't that amazing? They do not thrive because they are strong. This teaches us that physical strength is not necessarily a requirement for leadership. It also means that God displays wisdom in the weakest people. What's that weakness in your life that you think its bigger enough to hinder you from becoming all that God has created you to be. The ants are not strong and the Bible acknowledges this. However a lack of strength does not stop them from reaching their goals. Did you observe that when God wanted to teach wisdom He didn't say we should go to the lion because the Bible say in Ecclessiates 9:16 wisdom is better than strength...even weapons of war. The most powerful animal i believe is the ants not the lion. Let me explain, Ants though they aren't a strong creature yet they are not intimidated by the size of their workload, ants can carry a load or food size that is weigh 30-40 times their individual size. Have you ever tried lifting an object that is twice your own weight? Of course you'll crash and fall. The ants can lift an object that is 30 times their original weight. The elephants and no other powerful animal possess this kind of amazing strength (wisdom). This is why I wrote that the ants are the most powerful animal on earth because they are exceedingly wise. Ants are model of wisdom and strength. Being strong doesn't mean you're wise but a wise man is indeed a strong man.

Proverbs 30:24-28 (NIV)
"Four things on earth are small,
yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; Coneys are creatures of little power,
yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; a lizard can be caught with the hand,
yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

These verses were written by Agur the son of Jakeh, he was a contemporary of Solomon’s and was considered wise enough to be included in this book of wisdom. In this text, Agur lists four things on Earth that are very small – yet, despite their size – they are wise . . . and when we study them, we can find some great lessons.

The Ant: (Speaks of Preparation)
What he’s not: STRONG
Wise because: He prepare for the future.

Reflection : A strong leader is not necessarily a wise leader but a wise leader is a strong leader.

© David Oyeleye