The Little Fox Of Sloth Series

Song of Solomon 2:15 KJV Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

Proverbs 10:4-5 KJV He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. [5] He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

I. INTRODUCTION—THINGS THAT CAN SPOIL OUR WALK WITH GOD

So far in this series of Bible studies we have considered the little foxes of sinful speech, spiritual apathy, double-mindedness, and now we come to sloth. Perhaps there may be a tendency to scoff or wink at such topics in consideration of some of the much larger temptations and sins the devil may use to pull us away from the Lord. Yet there is something about these little foxes that can destroy our witness and could very well lead to our spiritual demise. These little foxes can damage the vines and hinder spiritual growth in such a way to cause heartache, sorrow, and disappointment.

At best it is almost hard to imagine that seemingly benign things such as pride, jealousy, envy, fear, and other little foxes would have the ability to destroy a saint of God. But that is exactly what can take place with these forgotten little sins. All that it takes for these things to harm our souls is for us to quit being diligent and vigilant in our walk. They are sneaky and often unnoticed but that does not remove their sinister effect if they get into the vineyards of our soul, our family, and our church. You can count on one thing the devil will take every opportunity he can to let these little foxes loose in our lives.

The fallout that takes place after the little foxes attack can be summed up in the results that follow:

• Our personal testimony and witness is lost to both believers and unbelievers.

• Our relationship with God in prayer and the Word loses its richness and life.

• Our actions as a saint are altered because of the associated baggage of guilt and shame that plague us.

• Our joy is robbed which often causes us to lose hope.

• Our convictions become dead to the condemnation of the devil.

• Our life follows a downward spiral of feelings of regret, sorrow, anger, frustration, and even depression.

Despite the presence of little foxes, there is a promise that we have that we desperately need to take to heart that is found in the Word of God:

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

For every little fox that attempts to destroy the vine, there is a hope that we may have in Jesus Christ who has paid the price for our salvation. Despite the fact that the devil is working overtime to cause us to become discouraged, fearful, and defeated, we can know that there is a power that has been invested in us. This power of the Spirit is present to help us to escape the suffocating pressure that is brought about by the guilt and shame of failure.

Perhaps you have not fallen to any of the little foxes that we have covered up to this point. On the other hand, you may have allowed one of the sneaky little devils to take advantage of your vineyard and now you are dealing with the fallout from it. What the devil doesn’t want you to do is begin believing again. He wants to kill any hope you may have of turning your spiritual life around. For those who have felt the clutches of the claws of the little foxes, there are a couple of passages that can help you:

Galatians 5:1 KJV Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:13 KJV For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

The one thing that can help us to detect and see the right direction to go is the Word of God. If you can just determine to practice what the Word of the Lord has to say, great freedom can take place.

John 8:31-32 KJV Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; [32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.