The Little Foxes

[lillibet53]

from More Precious than Silver (Joni Eareckson Tada):

Little Foxes
Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes.
                                         -- Song of Songs 2:15 (NKJV)
For a time I lived with my sister Jay in a beautiful farmhouse out in the rolling hills of Maryland.  Part of the house was a log cabin, whose wood dated back to the last century.  With such old timbers, we had to watch out for termites.
 
The first year or two we didn't pay much attention to termites.  We spotted just a few.  We considered calling an exterminator, but then decided to compromise and use a can of bug spray.  We paid for it the following year.  The termites came back and brought all their second cousins.
 
Compromise in little things leads to a greater downfall.  Today's verse tells us to be wary of little foxes.  We are usually on guard against the "foxes," the big sins in our lives; but it's the "little foxes," the minor, incidental sins which we tend to trivialize. God's word warns us that it's the little foxes, the small sins which spoil tender grapes.  Small sinful habits stifle small good beginnings.  Little sins kill good intentions - intentions that are tender and young, like the new, little grapes on the vine which haven't had a chance to mature.  This is the fruit most susceptible to ruin.
 
Andrew Bonar says, "It is not the importance of the thing, but the majesty of the Lawgiver that is to be the standard of obedience.  Some people might reckon such minute rules as trifling.  But the principle is simply this -- is the Lord to be obeyed in all things?"
 
Today you may be sweeping some so-called little sins under the carpet:  hedging on the truth; claiming more deductions than you deserve on your income tax forms; or fantasizing yourself into a real soap opera of a daydream.  Wake up.  Compromise on little issues can lead to big spiritual problems.  Don't let any little foxes spoil God's vine.
 
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Lord Jesus, I don't want small sins to spoil whatever new things you want to begin in my life.  Help me to obey you in all things.

[CanuckLynn]

Amen! 

Awesome message!  This scripture relates to marriages, and I've never looked at it the way this author has.  It can definetly be applied to the "so-called little sins" that have the ability to cause the 'biggest' problems in our spiritual walk and relationship with God! We should never minimize or ignore them but identify them so that we can deal with them!

Liz, if you meant to convict us or make us aware of our 'little foxes', you've succeeded with me...thank-you!