“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines.” (Song of Solomon 2:15)

In Greenville, South Carolina, my elderly neighbor owned a lovely picket fence. The fence had a gorgeous ivy vine growing down its entire length. Although the vine grew from one main stalk, at approximately every other post, it had been carefully trained back into the ground by my neighbor.

One day my dog tunneled under that fence. He damaged the vine by his digging. A few days later I was shocked to see an entire section of the vine withered on the fence. I apologized to my neighbor. He kindly forgave us. Although he was very understanding, my wife and I felt terrible about the damage because it was a very long time before the vine reclaimed its beauty.

Every time I read Song of Solomon 2:15 (“Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines”), I am reminded of that huge vine and its little destroyer.

The lesson is, of course, that little, seemingly insignificant things can cause grossly disproportionate damage. We must guard ourselves against little foxes that do great harm to a Christian’s life.

A Little Laziness

“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.” (Proverbs 6:10, 11)

Laziness spoils the vine of industry and success. Ultimately, the lazy person will come to poverty. A little laziness grows bigger. The lazy person gets even lazier! This verse teaches that a little sleep-a nap-becomes a little slumber, and a little slumber becomes deep, almost catatonic, sleep.

Wake up! Get out of bed! Get busy-before it’s too late! You’ll be too poor to own a place or even a bed. Chase the little fox of laziness from your tender vines, or you’ll have no vines, no grapes, and no profit.