The ant isn’t responsible for himself. Nor is he building a house for himself. He is a member of a colony and his life is forfeit to the needs of that colony. He does not build a house or gather food because he needs or wants to. He does it because he has no other role in life. He’s just a little cog in a much bigger thing.
I always liked the grasshopper in this story.
But then again . . . you are the Prodigal Son.