Bible Thoughts April 26, 1998
"Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes"(Song of Solomon 2:15).
The Song of Solomon is a love song. The groom is expressing the love he has for his bride. When you read the messages of the great lover, one has to be impressed by his devotion to his mate. How wonderful it would be if such feelings could exist in every marriage. There would be no divorces, only affection and concern for each other.
One of the figures Solomon uses involves the "little foxes that spoil the vineyards." This reference apparently refers to the playfulness and waste of the small foxes of Palestine playing among the grape vineyards. They dig holes, uproot tender vines, as well as biting at the low- hanging grapes, spoiling the fruit. Note, these are small foxes.
Is Solomon pointing out how small things can become troublesome and spoil the love that exists between two people? Many marriages end, not because of adultery or some other gross sin, but because the "little" things in day-to-day living intervene and erode the love mates have foreach other. Such irritations build a bridge between the couple that seems insurmountable. The "little foxes" do their damage.
The principle of how "small" things can spoil a relationship is not confined to marriage. Many organizations have suffered, not because of major disasters, but because the little day-to-day irritations were permitted to separate and damage the organization.
So it is among brethren. Over my lifetime, and perhaps yours, many spoilers have taken away part of the joy of living as a Christian because there were some who were like the "little foxes." Let us review some of the "little things" that will spoil the vineyard.
Neglect: A great spoiler, but considered a minor offense by those who engage in it. "Well, I meant to do it or come to that service, but I just didn't get around to it." What if everybody had that attitude? There would be no services, no praise, no teaching, no edifying, no encouraging, etc. Neglect spoils a Christian's dedication to the Lord.
Idle words: All of us have been guilty of speaking before we were thinking. Such words often have little or no benefit, in fact, may be harmful. Idle words can spoil a conversation, spoil a meeting, spoil a service, and should not have been said. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a network of silver"(Proverbs 25:11).
Accusations and inferences: Closely tied to idle words, a subtle accusation or a sly inference can plant an idea in a person's mind that is completely without warrant. And more often than not, when such a person is challenged, it is almost impossible to get to the truth. Accusing is not proving and inferring is not evidence. Disciples have been hurt and the church has suffered from accusations and inferences. They have the potential of "spoiling" one's efforts to serve God.
Carelessness: Carelessness is a form of neglect. It is not giving the proper attention to important matters, but gives way to one's failures to put the kingdom first. When one is careless about studying the word of God, helping those who are in need, teaching others, setting the proper example, and devoting oneself to the cause of Christ, faith is weakened and one slowly drifts from the cause of Christ.
Self-indulgence: There are many activities in which a person engages that are not wrong in themselves. However, they can become a spoiler of service when those activities take the place of one's dedication to the Lord. When one's fleshly desires outweigh and take precedence over spiritual matters, self has become the master. It may not seem like much of a spoiler to those who have succumbed, but it means one is not "seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness..first" (Matthew 6:33).
Human ambitions: If one is to succeed in life, one has to be ambitious. If one is to be successful as a Christian, one must be ambitious. Human ambitions, however, must take a second place to spiritual ambitions. Christians can have both worlds, when we understand that human ambitions cannot overshadow spiritual ambitions. Some souls will come to the end of life's way to find that their personal aims kept them from being the most capable servant of God for their human ambitions spoiled their service. And...a great number of those things thought to be great were not so great after all.
The tragedy of the above: little foxes grow into big foxes. It may seem small to me now, but how will it seem to God? And how is it affecting others? The brethren individually? The church as a body? Family and friends?
In the words of the song, "Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me." And don't be a spoiler!