In today’s culture, individualism is celebrated as the ultimate achievement. We glorify the “self-made” man or woman, the single household, the lone success story. But step back and look at the consequences, and we see the wreckage: fractured families, broken communities, and a nation running headlong into disaster.
The Ants: The Greatest Living Organism
Strangely enough, one of the smallest creatures on Earth shows us the greatest lesson we’ve ignored. Ants.
They are the most successful living organism not because they chase selfish dreams, but because they put the colony first. Each ant works not for itself, but for the survival and strength of the whole. And in doing so, they thrive.
When you put others first, great things happen. Everyone wins. When selfishness dominates, everyone eventually loses.
“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” (Proverbs 6:6–8)
America’s Lost Strength
There was a time when America’s greatest power wasn’t its weapons or its wealth—it was its working class. Families and neighbors stood together, sacrificing for the common good and building a future for generations. That collective spirit built schools, industries, and communities.
Today, that spirit is gone. Greed, self-interest, and division have torn apart what once held us together. Leadership has failed us, and the “dream” being sold is a hollow one. As former President Trump says, “Make America great again.” But here’s the truth: it won’t happen until we stop living as individuals and start acting as a collective once more.
The Celebration of Brokenness
We live in a world where broken systems are celebrated as accomplishments.
- Single motherhood is glorified, but the harsh truth is that children without both parents often struggle. That is not something to celebrate—it is a wound in society.
- Women are told to chase careers like men, but in doing so, many forget that God entrusted them with the gift of life—not simply the grind of a 9-to-5.
- Men, instead of leading families and serving their communities, often get lost in chasing wealth and status.
This is not progress. It is fragmentation.
“If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3:25)
The Spiritual Poverty of Materialism
God did not create us to live paycheck to paycheck. He created us to serve Him and one another. Yet society has sold us the lie that materialism and “freedom” will fill the growing emptiness in our souls. In reality, the more divided we are, the weaker we become. The more we chase possessions, the emptier we feel.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Matthew 6:19–20)
Lessons From the Ant Hill
Even the tiniest creature with the smallest brain shows us what we have forgotten. Ants existed before us, and they will outlast us, because they understand something we do not: strength is in unity, not selfishness.
If we continue to run in the direction of radical individualism, we will hit the wall—and hard. But if we look to God’s design, to His call for unity, love, and service, we can find our way back to greatness—not in wealth, but in purpose.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3–4)
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Forgive us for the pride and selfishness that has divided our homes, our communities, and our nation. Teach us the wisdom of the ants—that unity and service are the path to strength. Help us to put others before ourselves, to cherish family, and to live not for material gain but for Your kingdom. Restore in us the spirit of love, humility, and togetherness so that we may reflect Your design for humanity.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
Thrive on Less 
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