While there are many different species of bees, this will be general post about the bee insect. Here are three lessons we can learn from a Bee.
1. Pollination
Bees not only collect pollen to make honey, but during flight some of the pollen drops to the ground and results in cross pollination between plants. Cross pollination can also happen if the bee goes from one flower to the next, the pollen collected on its legs can be transferred to the other flower/plant. Cross pollination produces either a new plant that resembles the two types the bee collected pollen from or it can change the color of plants. Just as bees pollinate to help plants and the environment, Christians need to pollinate the world with the Gospel of Christ. If we read the Bible and learn from God's Word and drop or rub off what God's Word says on others, it will help plant seeds and nurture souls.
2. Honey
Honey is a pleasant gift bees make not only for themselves but for others. Other animals such as bears and honey badgers eat honey as well as humans. The Bible mentions honey many times throughout the old and new testaments. It is first mentioned in Genesis 43:11, the first book of the Bible, and last mentioned in Revelation 10:10, the last book of the Bible. One of my favorite Bible verses about honey is Proverbs 25:16, "Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, lest you be filled with it and vomit." A great reminder that even though something is good for us, eating too much or overdoing it has bad results. Everything in moderation; too much of anything is a sin - gluttony. Just as bees produce honey which affects a variety of species and provides a food resource for many, Christians should produce good works that positively impact others and bring glory and honor to God Almighty.
3. Colonies
Bees live in colonies and have set orders. One queen, who reproduces, several worker bees, who clean the hive, collect pollen, and feed the colony, and drones, the queen's mates. Bees can teach us that to have a productive, healthy, and thriving society it takes multiple people who are actively participating and working together for a goal. As Christians, we have one God and when we live out the roles we are created for and work together for God's kingdom, we are obeying God's Word and bringing Him glory and honor. As sisters and brothers in Christ, when we come together in harmony, unity, love, cheerful hearts, servanthood, selflessness, forgiveness, humility, peace, goodness, joy, kindness, patience, and self-control we are living out a true family of God, a godly colony.
This week, while we are practicing social distancing and most are staying at home, let's work on reading God's Word every day, even if its a few paragraphs, sharing Jesus' gift of salvation with one person a day, and practicing the fruit of the Spirit to work and live by each day with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. If we wake up with a new day in mind, strive to be more like Christ and do better, and actively live by God's Word then the light of Christ will radiate through us and may help another person!