“Go to the ant, lazy one; observe its ways and become wise” (Mishlei 6:6)
Metzudat David states: Lazy one, learn wisdom from the ways of the ant.
The Malbim expounds: Hashem implanted into the nature of the ant the trait of industriousness. The ant collects thousands of grains of sand, while she eats only one and a half grains in her entire life. Man should take to heart the lesson of the ant, never to be slothful or sluggish. Rather, he should diligently amass storehouses of wisdom. A lazy person, who asserts that he cannot find within himself a grain of alacrity or feels that there is no real purpose in exerting himself to acquire this trait, should study the habits of the ant. It is created with the trait of diligence and toils far beyond what it needs to exist, in order to teach mankind this important lesson.
The lazy man has no interest either in this world or the Next. All he wants to do is remain at ease. Hashem created the weak insect called the ant, who works constantly to collect its food, in order to teach a valuable lesson to the sluggard. The sluggard should be ashamed as he sees the industrious ant working non-stop, and learn from its good ways, removing laziness from his soul for good (Orchot Tzaddikim, Sha’ar Ha’atzlut).
“The soul of the lazy man desires and has nothing, but the soul of the diligent will be fattened” (Mishlei 13:4)
The lazy man is the opposite of a diligent person, who does all his activities with alacrity and efficiency. But do not think that the lazy one lacks worldly temptations. On the contrary, he has more passion than ordinary people. Desire is aroused in the heart of the one who has no way of fulfilling his yearnings. He is kept away from fulfilling his lusts only by his lazy limbs, which refuse to accommodate his burning soul. These limbs want nothing more than to remain idle, allowing his soul to die of hunger. But diligent people are sated and well-fed, even as they exert themselves in labor, for they have all of their desires fulfilled.
Both of these prototypes are analogous to Torah scholars. One who is lazy deprives his soul of its spiritual satiation, until it withers away forever. But one who is diligent applies himself to his studies, thereby satisfying his spiritual yearnings (Malbim).
“The lazy man buries his hand in the dish; but he will not return it to his mouth” (ibid. vs. 24)
Metzudat David explains that the lazy man is too indolent to engage in serious work. Rather, he spends his day involved in food. He is constantly seasoning his dishes and perfecting them. But in the end, he has nothing to put into his mouth.
“I went past the field of a lazy man and the vineyard of a man lacking [an understanding] heart, and, behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; nettles had covered its surface; and its stone wall was broken down. When I saw this, I set my heart [to understand]; I saw and took a lesson from it” (ibid. 24:30-32).
Yehudah ben Teima says (Avot 5:20): Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer, and strong as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven.
Man is an amalgamation of all the various creatures. When he utilizes the quality of might, he is called a lion; when he manifests the quality of boldness, he is called a leopard (Malbim, Shir Hashirim 4).
The Mesillat Yesharim writes (Chapter 7): The possession of zeal constitutes an extremely high level of spiritual development, which a person’s nature prevents him from attaining all at once. He who strengthens himself, however, and acquires the trait of zeal to the greatest extent possible, will, in the future, truly attain it. The Creator, may His Name be blessed, will present it to him as a reward for having striven for it during the time of his service.
