Listen To Calvin? Or Learn from the Ants?

My facebook friend, Jon W. Quinn, recently posted a piece based on the old comic strip Calvin and Hobbs by Bill Watterson.

While the comic paints  a humorous scene of Calvin’s interaction with some ants, Jon offers a serious and scriptural application,   We share it without additional comment.  Enjoy!

The little boy’s name is Calvin. He’s only a comic strip character, and his best friend, Hobbes, is actually only a stuffed tiger who becomes very life-like in Calvin’s imagination. Though it is no longer running in the newspapers, I did sign up to a Calvin and Hobbes Facebook group and still enjoy reading about Calvin and Hobbes’s adventures. I, for one, do not think that Bart Simpson comes close to Calvin, in entertainment value; in cleverness; or in educational value. Yes, Calvin actually gives me some worthwhile things to think about.

For example, think about this. One strip has Calvin hunched over an ant hill, talking to the ants. He says, “Hey ant, you’re working like a maniac and what have you got to show for it?” In the next scene, Calvin continues: “What’s the colony done for you lately? What about your needs?” Then Calvin throws up his arms and exclaims, “You don’t owe anybody anything! Let the others fend for themselves! Move out! Discover yourself! Express your individuality!” In the final scene, Calvin confidently places his hands on his hips, smiles in a self-satisfied way, and explains, “If they listen, this will solve our ant problem.”

Many today exemplify the attitudes Calvin was trying to instill in the ants. Rugged independence, lack of consideration for others, and a “what’s in it for me?” attitude. Many of the heroes in films, TV and books are those who break the rules and flaunt their “independence.” “I gotta be me!” It is not a good thing that interest in the common good is trashed in favor of an obsessive interest in the individual. Compassion, mercy and even justice is subverted to the whims of self-interests. Frivolous lawsuits abound and people are rewarded huge sums for suffering the consequences of their own foolishness or crimes. Greed drives up costs for everybody, but that’s O.K. as long as I get mine!

And, of course, respect for God and His word do not fit in very well with prevalent ideas of “doin’ everything my way.”

Understand – things are not better this way. Such selfishness and greed are contemptible. They deserve no place in the hearts of God’s people! Such attitudes are in complete opposition to what Jesus taught concerning our relationships with God and our fellow human beings, all of them the offspring of the Father. We need to be loving God with all our hearts and loving our neighbors as ourselves, as Jesus, the master giver, has taught us (Matthew 22:37-39).

The Scriptures warn us, for our good, not to take the road of self-indulgence. Paul wrote, “For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.” (2 Timothy 3:2-5).

Disciples of Jesus form local churches so individual members can work together for a common purpose. This is according to God’s instruction coming from His wisdom. No one who lives by faith seeks independence from God, His will, or our responsibilities to one another as human beings. We look to the Son of God as our example of kindness and the blessing of serving others as we glorify God, strengthened by faith, encouraging one another, and anticipating seeing Him face to face one day.

But, you know, Calvin was right… if the ants listen to him, the ant problem will soon be over. Far too many of us are listening to Calvin’s advice.