A Most Unusual Insect. Bees live and work
in every part of the world except the poles. A bee can live alone
only a few days; a colony can exist for years. The honeybee is
the only insect that produces a food eaten by Man. Why did God
create such a marvelous creature? A colony of bees is a type or
picture of the church.
A Bee Colony Has A Very Simple Organization. Every
colony is independent of every other. All activity revolves around
the queen. Every worker has a duty: scout, gatherer, guard, fanner,
housekeeper, queen-attendant, etc. All are willing workers. The
only bee that does no work is the drone, and he is kicked out
in the fall. The comparison to a congregation is obvious.
A Colony Is A Place Of Vigorous Activity. Observe
a colony on a warm day during the busy season. All activity in
the hive is directed toward increasing the size of the colony.
Bees do not produce honey and beeswax for men . . . we literally
rob them. So should there be a flurry of activity within our congregations.
We can even use the word "bee" to outline the work of
the church: Benevolence, Evangelism, Edification.
Honeybees Take Special Care Of The Young. The
average life of a worker during the busy season is only about
six weeks. The queen lays eggs which are cared for by the workers.
After the eggs hatch, the larva are fed royal jelly (a creamy
substance rich in vitamins and proteins, formed in the head of
the workers) and beebread (a mixture of honey and pollen). The
future strength of the colony depends upon the care of the young.
The colony that fails to produce young will die out within a single
season. The future strength of the church depends upon the youth.
They must be fed on the riches of God's Word. We need to take
better care of our youth.
Honeybees Have A Special Kind Of Communication.
A couple of German researchers have learned the language of
the honeybee. When a scout bee finds a source of nectar, she returns
to the hive and performs a little dance that tells other workers
where the source is located, not only the direction from the hive
but also the distance. The Christian has a language the world
doesn't understand, and we are not talking about some "unknown
tongue." Terms like baptism, the new birth, the church, the
kingdom, pastor, bishop, and reverend are not understood in the
biblical sense by the world. Sometimes folks are betrayed by their
language, as with Peter when he warmed himself at the enemy's
fire (Matthew 26:73).
Honeybees Are Very Protective Of The Colony.
All cracks and crevices are sealed with a rosin-like substance.
Guard bees will not allow a stranger to enter. A worker bee can
sting only once and will give its life for the colony. The greatest
enemies are moths, weevils, mites, etc., that seek entrance into
the colony. The church is the family of God. We should be very
protective of the family. It is very disturbing to hear anybody
"run down" the family. All cracks and crevices in our
faith should be sealed, because our adversary, the devil, is always
lurking about seeking to gain entry. We should be willing to give
our lives for the family. "Be thou faithful unto death .
. . " (Revelation 2:10). Our greatest enemies are from within
. . . wolves in sheep's clothing.
Honeybees Will Swarm When Overcrowded. When
the hive becomes overcrowded, the bees will produce a new queen
and swarm, thus producing a new colony. So often we "swarm"
because we can't get along together. The result is small congregations
that can do very little in advancing the cause of Christ. When
a congregation is firmly established and outgrows its facilities,
it might be a good idea to "swarm," but only after careful
planning and preparation.
The Honeybee Is The Most Giving Of All God's Creatures.
The honeybee must exist on what it produces, but it produces
much more than it needs; and what it doesn't need goes toward
maintaining and building up the colony. The Christian should be,
and most always is, most generous in giving. Why do you go to
work every morning? ". . . let him labor, working with his
hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him
that needeth. "(Ephesians 4:28). The Christian labors that
he might be able to give.
The honeybee's purpose in life is to produce honey
. . . not vinegar. What is my purpose in life? The honeybee's
purpose is realized only in context of the colony or hive. One
bee alone can accomplish practically nothing. Working together
we can accomplish much for the Lord. Let us learn these great
lessons God has placed in the world around us. -HC 84, Box 80,
Shock, WV 26638-9502. Phone: 304 462-0384. E-Mail: ghmiller@rtol.
net