Little Foxes

It’s interesting how we think it’s only big sins, big habits, big short-comings, and big
character flaws that trip us up. That’s usually not the case at all.

When I go to the zoo, I love to look at the cute little foxes. I have also seen them out in
the wild. The beauitul silver fox & white artic fox of Alaska are appealing to the eye.
They look innocent enough. I have taken precaution to not run into the huge grizzly
bear or gigantic wolves of that region. I usually hope to see the cute little fox, though.
Size seems to determine the danger of a thing in our minds. Yet the Song of Solomon
in chapter 2:15 says, “ …the little foxes, that spoil the vines:… It is making a point
about those cute little fox ruining lush gardens. They are small enough to get under the
fence, undetected, and can devour a whole garden. It takes a lot of time, effort, and
perspiration to produce a garden. Yet, if the farmer does not stay on top of guarding it
from the little foxes, it was all for nothing. What if that farmer was always putting bear
and wolf traps out, always looking up for the big animals, and never aware of the little
ones slipping under the fence? He soon would have nothing left.

The Bible is always true and it warns us about many little things that can ruin our
spiritual and our natural lives. Prov 6:10-11 says, “10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a
little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth,
and thy want as an armed man.”

I am a person who seems to require a full eight to nine hours of sleep, ever since I was
a little girl. Yet, I have often had to go with four or less hours in ministry, flying across
continents, late-night meetings, etc. However, now that I am home and a pastor more
than a traveling minister, I have more opportunity to get what I need. I have to guard
that I don’t try to make up for the years of not enough. The Bible tells us what happens
with a little sleep and a little slumber. It wants to take more. The flesh always does. It
says things like this, “Just another five minutes or so. That’s not much.” However, I
notice that I usually wake up another hour later. It is that giving into the flesh over little
things, that develps into big, bad habits that cost us.

Another warning comes about the little member, called the tonuge. James 3:5 says,
“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a
matter a little fire kindleth!” I don’t even think this needs much explanation. The
tongue is a small organ that has split churches, torn down governments, brought up
dictators, and dvided friends and families. We think one small word of criticism, one
small “giving someone a piece of our mind,” or one small insult or name-calling is no
big deal. It can completely destroy others.

Let’s learn to work on the little things in a big way. Let’s apply The Word of God, nip it
in the bud, while it’s still small, learn to discipline ourselves, and hold ourselves
accountable to God. Let’s not let the little foxes spoil our Godly vines.