“Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes” (Songs of Solomon 2:15)
The book of the Songs of Solomon is about the love relationship between a woman (the Shulamite) and King Solomon. The book is essentially about love, intimacy and relationship. In the above scriptures, the two lovers affirm that little things affect their relationship and they express their determination to get rid of the little foxes. A dagger is small compared to a sword but it can kill as well. In reality, what affects our relationship with God, spouse, family members and other loved ones are seemingly little insignificant things. These little foxes have potential to wrought great damage in our lives because we don’t pay serious attention to them. We think they don’t really matter, and because of our carelessness these little things are allowed to fester and become great things impairing on our lives adversely. They are weeds allowed to grow which eventually choke good seeds in our vineyards. Highlighted below are some little foxes:
1. The fox of ingratitude: An African proverb says that the person that was done good, and never came back to offer thanks is like a thief that stole from someone. The fact is that humans hate ingratitude and God also hates ingratitude (Luke 17:17-18). Ingratitude robs our relationship of intimacy. A Christian who is always offering thanks and gratitude to God will always sense His presence in an unusual manner. The antidote for spiritual dryness, stagnation and lack of interest in the things of God in a Christian’s life is to always count his blessings (not losses) and offer thanks to God for them always.
2. The fox of bitterness: The Bible makes it clear that unchecked bitterness chokes the grace of God in our lives and can cause devastation that will affect many including generations coming after (Hebrews 12:15). We should borrow a cue from the life of Naomi who became justifiably angry and bitter after losing a husband and two children in a foreign land. A woman called pleasantness (Naomi) changed her name to Mara (bitterness) because of the adversities and pain life had inflicted on her. However, Naomi refused to allow bitterness to fester in her. And because she refused to nurse bitterness in our soul, God changed her story making her to rather nurse a baby (Obed) at old age (Ruth 4:16-17). Naomi through faith in God and her willingness to help our daughter in law (Ruth) turned a bitter experience to sweet experience.
3. The fox of evil thoughts: Many Christians pay little attention to their thought life. The general assumption is that it doesn’t really matter what I think. Many do not fully realize how impactful our thoughts affect our lives. Many do not see a correlation between their predominant thought patterns and the direction their life takes. Where the mind goes is where the man will go. The Good News Translation of the Bible says “Be careful how you think, your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Proverbs 4:23). The forces whether good or evil that governs our lives are released from within us (Matthew 12:35). Cain harbored envious thoughts against his brother Abel and it resulted into murder. Amnon harbored lustful thoughts against his half sister (Tamar) and consequently raped her. King Nebuchadnezzar harbored prideful thoughts and he was turned to an animal for seven years as a result. Evil thoughts will always produce evil actions.
Other little foxes that have great potential to wrought serious devastation on our relationships and lives that often escape our attention include doubt, prayerlessness, carnality or worldliness, discouragement, self pity, gossip and excessive sorrow. Receive grace in this month of grace to unplug and undo these foxes from your vineyards in Jesus name. Have a blessed new month.
Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
www.rccgpittsburgh.net
http://gboyegae.blogspot.com
