The point I’m trying to make is that the world will change it’s standards of diligence and generosity while Christians have a much better defined set of guidelines. Paul reminds us of the love and grace of God that was provided as an example of giving that we are to follow. Paul quotes Exodus 16:18 in opposition to some people living like grasshoppers while others live like ants. We are to strive for equality in giving where everyone has neither too much or too little.
From the time of Abraham, God had blessed his followers so that they may be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:2). Robert Morris gives the following example in his book, The Blessed Life. A man tells his pastor that he’s having trouble tithing. “What seems to be the hang up the pastor asked. “Well back when I made $50 a week, I tithed $5, which was easy. And when I made $500 a week, I tithed $50, which was okay. But now that I make $5000 a week, I’m having a hard time. A $500 tithe is a lot of money! Will you pray for me?” “Sure,” said the pastor, “let’s pray! Father, please reduce his income back down to $500 a week so that he can honor You with the tithe.”
Few people talk about the ancient counter-fable of Zeus and the Ant. In this fable, there was a man that was always busy farming but still wasn’t satisfied so he stole his neighbor’s crops. When the Greek god Zeus saw this he turn him into the first ant. However the new form did not change his habits and to this day the ant gathers food it did not plant and keeps it for itself. The moral is that it's easier to change your appearance than to change your habits. So it seems ancient culture was just as ambiguous on the virtue of the ant as people have been throughout history.
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