May-Jun 2007

  1. HABIT
  2. PREPARATIONS FOR CHRIST'S REIGN—"CONTINUED"—
  3. THE LITTLE FOXES
  4. THE SECOND DAY OR EPOCH
  5. PUBLICATIONS
  6. ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE LITTLE FOXES
"Catch us the foxes, . . . that ruin the vineyards" (Song of Solomon 2: 15)

THE IMPORTANCE OF LITTLE THINGS is indicated as being essential many times in God’s Word. The act on which hung the most stupendous issues for mankind was seemingly very small—that of eating a little fruit in the Garden of Eden. How small the act; but how tremendous the consequences! It was not the outward act, however, but the underlying principle—disobedience to the Almighty—sin that brought about the fall of man, plunging the whole world into chaos and death.

This same principle lies back of many small transgressions today. In Bible symbols, foxes are used to represent a person’s faults of belief and practice. Both are included in the meaning of the foxes of our text, though it refers, especially, to faults of behavior or conduct. These faults are often manifested in the more or less depravity of the religious sentiments of the Christian and others; like unbelief, discouragement, being easily manipulated, lack of self-restraint, irreverence, unbrotherliness and being unsympathetic. These disgraces are present in persons who act along the ideas of direct selfishness, through the selfish qualities like pride, pretentious display, laziness, cowardice, contentiousness, insincerity, covetousness, lack of self-control, excessive self-preservation, hatred, ill will, evil surmising, etc. They are also present along avenues of not having proper social behavior as to the opposite sex, husband, wife, children, parents, brothers, sisters, friends, home and native land; and in addition, along the lines of selfishness combined with faults in the selfish, religious and social sentiments. In fact, there is more sin committed by combinations of depraved qualities than by faults exercised singly. Hence, covetousness works in combination with superstition, defiled faith or depraved love of home or friends; contentiousness works in combination with sectarianism, defiled family relations, erroneous ideas, etc.

When our simple and compound faults are full grown, they correspond to the foxes of our text; but when they are still comparatively small, they correspond to the little foxes. These foxes, great and small, our text charges us to catch hold of them, in the interests of one another and of ourselves. “Catch hold of, or take hold for us.” This means that each one of us in the interests of the whole congregation, as well as in our own interests, is to capture and make impotent and as nearly non-existent as possible, the faults, large and small. We do this because our faults do not injure merely each one of us that possess them, but they also work toward injuring our brethren, on the principle that a contagious disease in one often infects others. Let us look at a few of these foxes, great and small, and see how dangerous they really are:

PRIDE is a sly one—with many disguises. It is exaggerated self-esteem, consisting of overdone self-confidence and self-respect, and of self-satisfaction. It is seen best at a distance, or in our neighbor’s figurative vineyard. It takes humility and careful self-examination to discover it in self, and this is why it is often overlooked in one’s own vineyard. It eats the very core out of the Christian’s heart and life. God hates pride (Prov. 6: 16, 17; 16: 5). To shelter it is surely disastrous, so far as our usefulness to Him is concerned. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5: 5, 6).

DOUBT is very destructive—It is the opposite of faith—the opposite of mental appreciation and heart’s reliance upon God and Christ (Heb. 11: 1). It destroys faith, which is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5: 4); without faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11: 6). It is an insult to God to doubt Him or His Word of Truth. How important then it is to lay hold on that little fox called DOUBT, for it will surely destroy our faith if allowed to go on unhindered!

FEAR (dread) is closely related to DOUBT; for one dreads and regards with apprehension one in whom he has little or no confidence. Mistrust and suspicion breed fear. “God is love” (1 John 4: 8, 16); and in proportion as we believe in Him and love His glorious character as revealed to us in His precious Word, we learn to love and reverence Him and not to be afraid of Him or dread Him. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1 John 4: 18).

DISCOURAGEMENT may seem to some to be such a nice little fox that it needs little guarding against. Many will valiantly resist and pursue other foxes while fondling this one in their bosom, little realizing how dangerous it is. Many people are filled with self-pity, like to feel that they are much misunderstood and abused, seem to enjoy emphasizing their trials, not considering them “light afflictions” (2 Cor. 4: 17), and seem to like to “feel blue.” However, how can we “be of good cheer [courage]” (John 16: 33) and “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2: 3), if we become discouraged, and our morale is low? Courage in action spells victory; discouragement tends to bring defeat. Let us watch out for this little fox; it is so small and so innocent looking that it creeps undetected into almost every Christian’s life at one time or another. Therefore, this fault appears when things go differently than expected, when we are depressed over our own or other’s faults and their manifestations, or when an answer to prayer is delayed. This sly little fox paid a visit to Jonah under the gourd vine (Jonah 4: 4-11), and to Elijah under the juniper tree (1 Kings 19: 2-18).

PLEASURE-LOVING and WORLDLINESS are foxes that, if allowed to do their spoiling work, will surely destroy the spiritual fruitage. It takes courage to stand for that which is right and true, and usually unpopular, against the opposition of the many. It is so easy to “go with the crowd.” The pleasures and attractions of the world usually appear very alluring to the fleshly mind. Many become “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Tim. 3: 4). “She who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives” (1 Tim. 5: 6). “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2: 15). “The friendship of the world is enmity with God; whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4: 4). “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12: 2).

FLESHLY-MINDEDNESS. Immature and unwary Christians allow this little fox many privileges; it is utterly ruinous to spiritual growth and contrary to the Word of God. We are to “flee youthful lusts” (2 Tim. 2: 22). We are to “put off . . . the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” (Eph. 4: 22). We are to “crucify the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5: 24). We are to “make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (Rom. 13: 14).

DESTRUCTIVE CRITICISM and FAULTFINDING are ugly affronts frequently used to cover one’s own deficiencies. They breed self-righteousness, self-justification and hypocrisy. They injure those who see a mote in a brother’s eye but are blind to the beam or rafter in their own eye (Luke 6: 41, 42).

ENVY and UNWARRANTED JEALOUSY are “cruel as the grave” (Cant. 8: 6). They breed covetousness, discontent, ill will and hate.

CONTENTION, QUARRELING and WRANGLING where meekness and humility are lacking, these may be found. In such cases both parties think themselves right, but both are wrong in their attitude—since God forbids these disgraces. God will render “unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath” (Rom. 2: 8). “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory” (Phil. 2: 3; 1 Tim. 6: 3-5).

RESENTMENT and RETALIATION are closely related. How crafty are these little foxes. How natural and easy for imperfect humans to harbor them. They are very destructive to the fruits of the Spirit. If we do not catch them and suppress their efforts in time, they will breed unrighteous anger and hatred and murder (1 John 3: 15). “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die” (Rom. 8: 13).

GOSSIPING, BACKBITING and TALE BEARING. What a trio of mischievous foxes these are. What damage they may do to one’s figurative vineyard as they do their destructive work, singly and in combination! God’s judgments are pronounced against them (Lev. 19: 16; Prov. 26: 20-22; 2 Cor. 12: 20), and they must be dealt with in no uncertain way by those who would stand among the overcomers (Psa. 15: 1-3).

Numerous other foxes that spoil the vineyards could be described, but we will mention only one more: BUSYBODYING. Here is another real mischief-maker. The Apostle Peter exhorts, “Let none of you suffer as . . . a busybody in other people’s matters” (1 Pet. 4: 15). It seems that sometimes the Lord’s consecrated people are more inclined to be busybodies than are others. They have higher standards than most others have and are more conscientious. Their love of righteousness is greater than before their Christian association, also their hatred of iniquity is greater. There is, therefore, continually a temptation not to be content with the minding of one’s own business, but in almost all cases to give advice whether it is desired or not, and to seek to regulate everybody and everything. Some become conscientious meddlers in others affairs.

The Apostle Paul urges the brethren “that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business” (1 Thes. 4: 10, 11). Apparently, some in the early Church were inclined to be meddlesome, even as some of the Lord’s people of our day are inclined to interfere in other people’s affairs. “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears” (Prov. 26: 17)—he is apt to be bitten. It reminds us of the man who entered a house and tried to get the husband and his wife to stop throwing things at each other, only to have them both throw things at him, with disastrous results to him for meddling in their affairs. Busy-bodying in other people’s matters always brings suffering and sorrow to the one who does not quietly mind his own business, if not in his relationship with others, at least in his relationship with God.

Observation in life leads one to believe that many of the world are meddlesome busybodies, and that many of their trials result from this weakness. Quite often, someone takes advantage of a situation and without authority steps in and rules the home. Usually in such cases there is much injustice done. Those who take this position often seek to justify their wrong course by saying, “If I did not take the reins in hand, things would not run properly.” Such do not perceive that they are busybodies. Similar power-grasping and usurpation of authority is to be found also in various institutions, organizations, clubs and even among the Lord’s people in their religious assemblies.

This course of conduct demonstrates a lack of appreciation of the principles of justice and a lack of faith in God. We should do our duty and leave the rest to Him. If a brother and sister in the Ecclesia have a difficulty, mind your own business, and allow them to settle the matter between themselves. When related as parent and child, let them adjust the matter by them-selves, and learn whatever lessons the Lord, as their Judge, Teacher and Shepherd will give them. If they are husband and wife, the matter is the same. Let them alone. Do not busybody. Even if one of them were to come to you and ask advice, be slow to give it—decline to hear the case—follow the Lord’s counsel.

Advise the complaining one that the Lord has given instructions, and that it is not your province to interfere and that Matt. 18: 15-17 directs the course to pursue. See that you have nothing to do with such a case, unless it comes to you directly in line with this arrangement which the Lord has provided. If called into a family mix-up, decline participation therein and be not eager to nose into their affairs. Advise them first, in the best way you know how, to adjust matters between themselves, reminding them of the words of Jesus, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. 19: 6), and then see that you do nothing to put them asunder or to help to complete the separation of spirit which already has started. God has not called us to be troublemakers but peacemakers (Matt. 5: 9; Heb. 12: 14).

The word vineyard, in the Bible, is used to represent God’s people, real and professed, in relation to their sphere of service and development (Isa. 5: 1-7; Matt. 20: 1-16; 21: 33-46). Let us then, seek out, take hold of, grapple with, capture, incarcerate and kill all the foxes, great and small, that we find in ourselves— however cuddly and attractive they may seem; they are not our friends, but our enemies. Let us fight and overcome these disgraces lodged in our minds and hearts and thereby become eligible for the place our Lord has marked out for us in His Kingdom.    * * *