Have you noticed that life’s little things often give it proper perspective? Sometimes a tragic event brings perspective. Other times it’s a small act of kindness. The little things matter greatly, for good or for ill. And we can see that in a love note preserved for us in Scripture!
It’s The Little Things!
The Song Of Solomon is the Bible’s famous love story. And I’d like to point your attention to Song Of Solomon 2:14-15. The man speaks —
O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret place of the steep pathway, let me see your form, let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, and your form is lovely.
And any loving declaration requires a response! The woman then replied —
Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, while our vineyards are in blossom.
Do you see it? The big thing is their time together. She did not ask for protection from armies, lions, bears, etc. She asked for protection from little things that stole togetherness from them. What a huge lesson we have before us! It applies to our relationship to our Father, and spouse, and others.
Love Is Spelled: TIME
Dr. James Dobson said it countless times: Love is spelled: TIME. And another well-known figure put that idea into a story.
In Unto the Hills, Billy Graham tells a story about a girl and her father. They enjoyed walks together and always kept an eye out for the many birds they would see.They enjoyed the changes of scenery each season would bring. And they certainly enjoyed meeting different people with whom they crossed paths.
A day came that the girl didn’t come to walk with her father. She said she couldn’t go and he assumed it was just part of her growing up. Still, he was unhappy about having to walk alone.
Some weeks of solo walking passed by. The man continued to be unhappy about missing time with his daughter. But his birthday rolled around and he sat down to celebrate with his family. His daughter gave him some hand-made slippers which she had lovingly fashioned during her father’s walks. Realizing what had been going on, the father said:
My darling, I like these slippers very much, but next time buy the slippers and let me have you all the days. I would rather have my child than anything she can make for me.
Identifying Little Things
To the father, the slippers were little foxes. How often do we present our Father
with some work or labor? How often did that labor for Him get in the way of spending time with Him? Don’t misunderstand. Labors for Him and the Kingdom are important. But they are second to Him. And the same is true in our earthly relationships.
How many cute little foxes take our time away from the Father and/or each other? They look so harmless yet their distractions can do great damage. And these little things come in many forms. I can get your fox identification list started:
- iPhone
- Android
- Xbox
And this is just the beginning of things that take our time and keep us from love.
The Ephesian church (see Revelation 2) got that message. Their works were all in order, but they had left their first Love! The little foxes of busy-ness and distraction stole from them. Are they stealing from you?
Soli Deo Gloria!
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