Ants, Grasshoppers & the Gospel of Grace
- Ray Reynolds, Ph.D.
- Oct 22
- 3 min read
Have you ever heard the classic fable about the ants and the grasshoppers? It’s a great story that usually teaches us a basic life lesson about hard work, preparation, and the dangers of procrastination. Here’s the quick recap: The hardworking ants spent all summer diligently storing food for the winter. The grasshoppers, however, simply played all day. When the ants warned them, the grasshoppers scoffed, “There is plenty of time to work!”
But as it always does, winter quickly arrived. Suddenly, the grasshoppers were starving and had nowhere to turn. They rushed to the ants, desperately pleading, "Please, share your food with us!"
In the original tale, the ants turn them away with a stern lecture. But in this retelling, something wonderful and counter-cultural happens.
The Gospel Twist
The shocked ants stared at the freezing grasshoppers in amazement. “Do you really think we would share our food with you?” they asked, perhaps half-jokingly.
The grasshoppers, humbled and desperate, offered a meager deal: “If you give us some of your food, we will help you next summer.”
At this point, the ants could have stood firm on the principle of self-reliance, demanding the grasshoppers face the natural consequences of their foolish choices. But the ants decided to operate by a higher principle—a principle we are called to live by every day.
The ants sighed and said, “Okay. Only because the Bible tells us to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ in Matthew 19:19, Matthew 22:39, and James 2:8.”
Grace: The Ant’s Example
This version of the story has such a profound point for us as followers of Christ.
Yes, the grasshoppers were lazy. Yes, they were foolish. They had only themselves to blame for their hunger. The ants were perfectly justified in keeping their well-earned stores.
But the kind ants chose generosity over judgment. They chose to extend grace where the grasshoppers had deserved consequence. The ants lived out what Paul later taught: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
This is a beautiful reflection of God’s own heart toward us! We are the grasshoppers, caught up in the temporary pleasures and distractions of this world, often ignoring the wisdom and warnings of our Heavenly Father. We don't deserve His provision, yet because of His great love, He shares His abundance with us. He saved us not because we worked hard for it, but because He is generous and commanded us to love.
Working While it is Day
Does this mean that diligence doesn't matter? Absolutely not! The story is still a powerful reminder that diligent work is a Christian virtue.
The Bible is clear: we are called to be hard workers (Proverbs 6:6-11, Colossians 3:23). We are called to use the gifts, talents, and time God has given us wisely. As Christians, our work isn't just about earning a paycheck; it's about serving the Lord in all we do.
Our primary mission as believers is spiritual, which means we must be diligent in sharing the Gospel, serving the poor, and building up the Church. This is our storehouse work!
The grasshoppers learned a valuable lesson: no work and all play makes for very hungry grasshoppers. When we neglect our spiritual disciplines—prayer, Bible study, and fellowship—we end up spiritually hungry and unprepared for the "winters" and trials of life.
The Bottom Line: What Would Jesus Do?
The grasshoppers were happy and thankful, and hopefully, they learned their lesson. But the deeper message for us lies in the ants' response. We must strive for the ant’s diligence in our lives and ministry, but we must always approach our neighbors with the ant’s generosity and grace.
Our faith calls us to work tirelessly until Jesus comes, being "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (I Corinthians 15:58). But it also calls us to pause our well-deserved triumph to extend a hand to the needy, just as Christ extended His hand to us.
Every day, we face opportunities to show the world What Jesus Would Do. It involves both working hard for God’s Kingdom and loving our neighbor enough to share the blessings He has given us.
You are loved.
Ray Reynolds, PhD
**This blog was the fruit of a study I did with my son, Seth, for a speech at Lads to Leaders in 2011. We co-wrote dozens of blogs, sermons and classes throughout his childhood. This blog was an adaption of one of my favorites.
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