Little Foxes That Spoil The Vine
1. Little Weeds
2. Tiny Ants
3. The Sin With The Worst Consequence
4. A Small Thing That Causes Big Problems
5. Is It A Small Thing To Not Say, “Thank You”?
6. Without Love I Am Nothing
7. Are There Little Sins?
8. When We Don’t Do What Is Right Then It Is Sin
1. Little Weeds
When I went to the garden Saturday afternoon I saw one lone cucumber vine that had just come up in the row. But, there were several little weeds growing between the rows. As I used my hoe to go down a few of the rows to get those little weeds, I remembered a verse in the Bible that says, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” (Song Of Solomon 2:15) Preacher Buddy Fox was my pastor for many years and one time he used this verse for his sermon text. He talked about the little things that can cause big problems. The weeds in my garden are very small, but they already have a head start on the vegetable seeds that we planted. Let’s look at some of the small things that can cause big problems.
2. Tiny Ants
Another thing that I noticed as I walked through the garden were little ant hills, about two inches across. I need to take care of them before they move the whole family in. Many times in the past the ants have claimed territory in my garden and I ended up with stings on my feet and ankles. They are tiny, but they have a big bite that causes a big sting. That’s the way sin can be in our lives. We may think that something we do is a tiny sin, but it can have big repercussions. Sin is sin in God’s eyes, but some sins may seem small in our eyes and they can “easily beset us”. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
3. The Sin With The Worst Consequence
I tried to think of the sin that can bring the greatest consequences and I feel like it could be the sin of unbelief. When Jesus was walking and teaching among the people, His family and the people who thought they knew Him did not believe on Him. We see how they missed out on mighty works they may have received in Matthew 13:53-58.
“53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13:53-58)
They thought they knew Him but they didn’t believe in Him. There are many today who know who Jesus is, but they have never put their trust in Him to save them. They may even know John 3:16, but they have not read John 3:18.
“16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)
If we don’t believe that Jesus is God’s only begotten Son and that He came to give His life to pay for our sin, then we can’t go to heaven when we die. That is the worst punishment anyone will ever receive. All who reject Jesus in unbelief will pay for their sin throughout eternity.
“9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)
4. A Small Thing That Causes Big Problems
What do you think is one of the smallest parts of you that can cause the biggest problems? James tells us that it is our tongue! Years ago I heard a story of someone who had said bad things about a preacher. The person finally went to the preacher and told him that he was sorry. The preacher told him that he was forgiven, but told him to take a feather pillow and tear it open and wave it up into the wind. The feathers went everywhere, and then the preacher told him to gather every feather, which was impossible. That’s an illustration that shows how the words we say can spread and we can’t take them back. Today if we post something online there is no limit to the distances it can reach, and we can never delete all the places it goes. There are so many ways in the Bible that show the problems we have with our words… boasting, cursing, vain babblings, talebearers, tattlers, busybodies, and lying. Jesus warned in Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Following are some of the scriptures that show problems we have with our words.
“5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” (James 3:5-10)
“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.” (I Timothy 6:20-21)
“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” (Proverbs 18:8)
“And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.” (I Timothy 5:13)
“16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)
5. Is It A Small Thing To Not Say, “Thank You”?
When I was growing up we were taught to say, “Please”, and “Thank you”. I don’t know if children are still being taught good manners, or not. But, I do know that the Bible has much to say about being thankful. It’s not a little thing to be ungrateful. Jesus gave the multitudes the example to give thanks. “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.” (John 6:11) The book of Psalms is filled with songs of thanksgiving and praise to our God. The New Testament also encourages us to be thankful always. “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” (Ephesians 5:20) “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18) So, just how important is it for us to be thankful? Jesus told of the ten lepers that He healed and one returned to give thanks. “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17) Paul warns us that in the last days people will be unthankful. It may seem like a little thing to be unthankful, but look at this list he sent to young Timothy. Being unthankful is included with some serious offenses. We must always be thankful.
“1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (II Timothy 3:1-5)
6. Without Love I Am Nothing
We cannot put a price on the value of love. In Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth he explains that we could be a great speaker, have all knowledge, have great faith, and give everything we have, including our life, but without love it is nothing. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (I John 4:7-8)
“1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (I Corinthians 13)
7. Are There Little Sins?
Did you know that God’s Word tells us that we are guilty of sin even if we didn’t know it was wrong? The Israelites of the Old Testament had to obey all of God’s laws. "And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering,... for his sin which he hath sinned." (Leviticus 4:27-28) We think of "little sins" and "big sins". God gave Moses the law and commandments. We often put sin into categories. We read "Thou shalt not kill" and make that a major sin, while "Honour thy father and thy mother..." doesn't seem to be as important. But in the verses above we see that even when we sin "through ignorance" we are still guilty. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23) "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Jesus became our sin offering and our sacrifice. He died on the cross to pay the price we could not pay. You may not be a thief, or murderer, but you were still born into a life of sin. Look back to Adam and Eve in the garden. God told them not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but they did not obey God and were driven from the garden of Eden and brought a curse on the earth. This could compare to a child with his hand in a cookie jar after Mom said not to eat one before lunch. It may not seem like such a "big" sin to us, but it is disobedience. James 2:8-10 tells us, "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:8-9) I am so glad that Jesus died to cleanse us from all our sin!
8. When We Don’t Do What Is Right Then It Is Sin
If we ask someone to name some of the commandments they might say, “Thou shalt not kill” and “Thou shalt not steal” or some other “Thou shalt not…” commandment. There are some commandments in the Bible that tell us something to do, instead of something not to do. In James 4:17 we read, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” That is put very simply, if we know something that we are supposed to do and we don’t do it, then it is sin. We teach our children Ephesians 6:1-2. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)” We know the greatest commandment, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:30) Proverbs 3:5-6 is also a good command to follow, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Thessalonians 5 gives us several things on the “to do” list. These things are just as important as the things we are told not to do.
“16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (I Thessalonians 5:16-22)
