How To Overcome The Little Foxes That Subtly Destroy What Is Good - Song Of

How to Overcome the Little Foxes That Subtly Destroy What is Good - Song of Songs 2:15

"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards our vineyards that are in bloom." (S.O.S. 2:15)

Illustration:End of the Road for Fox That Attacked Baby

Mon Jul 15,11:14 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - A fox that savaged a sleeping baby two weeks ago has been trapped and killed by pest controllers, a newspaper reported on Monday. The fox attacked three-month-old Louis Day as he slept on a sofa in the sitting room of his home in Dartford, southeast England, according to the child’s father Peter Day. On Monday, the Daily Mail reported pest controllers had caught and destroyed the animal. The family sought help after the fox reappeared night after night outside their house. "It had attacked Louis and it had attacked and killed a chihuahua in a back garden a couple of streets away," the child’s mother Sue Eastwood was quoted as saying.

"If it was a dog that had bitten my son, it would have been put down -- that is why we called in the pest controller."

Today let us call on God, the great pest controller of the little foxes that seek to destroy what Christ is building in and through us. First we must expose sin and all its deception. Next, let us look at some of those little foxes that undermine what God is building in our lives. Let us ask the Lord to help us find ways to overcome them.

1. Failure to show respect for one another often ruins relationships. We live in a society that suggests we really do not have to respect anyone except ourself. In our narcissitic society it is often seen on TV how a young person will get angry with their teacher and decide to take revenge.

Illustration: Recently, in Kentucky, a 13 year old boy felt that he was wronged by his teacher so he and a friend dressed up in camoflauge uniforms, got their uncles’ rifles and shot fourteen students and teachers as they came running out of the school when they heard the fire alarm. Respect for one another’s authority, rights or feelings often plays a small role in the decisions made by many people in our society.

Respect is what Paul talked about in Phil. 2:3,4 when he wrote, "Do nothing from factional motives (through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends) or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each REGARD the others as better than and superior to himself (thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves). Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not merely their own interests, but also each for the interests of othes. Let this same attitude and purpose and humble mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus. (Let Him be your example of humility) (Phil. 2:3-5 - Amplified Bible)

Ask the Lord to help you show greater respect, regard and humility before others. Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling, says wise old Solomon. People who fail to show respect for others are pridefully succumbing to the self-destructive fox of pride.

2. Discourtesy is another subtle fox that destroys many relationships. A courteous person is polite, considerate and kind to others. We live in a world where driving to work everyday gives us visible evidence of how discourteous people are becoming. A discourteous person has little patience for another. They are quick to criticize, seek their own interests and find fault in another person’s views. Instead, a courteous person considers the other person’s felt, real, perceived, spiritual and physical needs before reacting out of anger. Failure to be courteous, kind and considerate of other peoples’ feelings is a sure recipe for the destruction of harmony in every home, business or work place.

Illustration:Mamie Adams always went to a branch post office in her town because the postal employees there were friendly. She went there to buy stamps just before Christmas one year and the lines were particularly long. Someone pointed out that there was no need to wait in line because there was a stamp machine in the lobby. "I know," said Mamie, ’but the machine won’t ask me about my arthritis."

Bits and Pieces, December, 1989, p. 2.

3. Nagging and criticism is another destructive fox that needs to be overcome. James writes, "My brethren, do not speak evil about or accuse one another. He that maligns a brother or judges his brother is maligning (injures another through slander) and criticizing the Law and judging the Law. But if you judge the Law, you are not a practicer of the Law (the Word) but a censor and judge of it." (James 4:11 - Amplifed Bible) Do all you can to put away a tendency to criticize or nag other people until they do what you want. Seek to compliment, admire and express appreciation for others instead of being critical of them. Paul writes, "Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining and questioning and doubting among yourselves." (Phil. 2:14 - Amplifed Bible)