A0289_Little Foxes
Date: 14th February 2007 (Wednesday PM) Ref: A0289
Place: Kambah P.S. Adapted from Ref Library Sermon
Title: Little Foxes
Text: & Song 2:15
Illust: On February 1st 2003 the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, shortly before concluding its 28th mission. All seven crewmembers were killed.
The loss of the Columbia was caused by damage sustained during launch when a piece of foam insulation the size of a small briefcase broke off the main propellant tank under the aerodynamic forces of launch. The debris struck the leading edge of the left wing on the number 8 reinforced-carbon-carbon (RCC) tile, damaging the Shuttle's thermal protection system (TPS). While Columbia was still in orbit, some engineers suspected damage, but NASA managers limited the investigation on the grounds that little could be done even if problems were found.
I. Danger of Neglecting Small Things
A. Little Foxes
Song 2:15 - "The little foxes are ruining the vineyards. Catch them, for the grapes are all in blossom. (TLB)
i. Context: ... of text ... marital love ... / ... Christ & the Church – in a wider context it is a call to attend to the small things ... that devour / undermine ..
(Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament) .. "comprehends both foxes and jackals, which "destroy or injure the vineyards; because, by their holes and passages which they form in the ground, loosening the soil, so that the growth and prosperity of the vine suffers injury"
ii. Tend to ignore ... consider to be unworthy / insignificant, we ignore yet .it's often small things .. that are crucial sometimes these are simply overlooked ... more often than not, they are deliberately ignored ... difficult to conceive of their significance
January 28, 1986. Challenger Disaster, accident that destroyed the United States space shuttle Challenger during takeoff on All seven crew members died. A faulty AO-ring@ seal failed in the solid-fuel rocket on the shuttle's right side. Flames escaped through the failed seal. The flames burned through the shuttle's external fuel tank and a support attaching the rocket to the tank. The rocket broke loose and pierced the tank. Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuels ignited, tearing the shuttle apart.
Termites .. The majority build their nests underground. The subterranean termites are extremely destructive, because they tunnel their way to wooden structures, into which they burrow to obtain food. Given enough time, they will feed on the wood until nothing is left but a shell.
iii. Most .. go through life .. only deal with 'BIG' Issues ... As long as we are not in a crisis situation ... all is well! ... not realizing, Most Big problems ... didn't just happen
B. Big Picture
i. Look at how the media deals with a major crime or robbery yet pretty much ignores all the Petty theft ...- Never ceases to amaze me how the young folk in Civic that beg for money are often wearing the latest fashion clothes – How do they afford it???
Small retail businesses are very unlikely to report shoplifting and employee theft to police. A report released today by the Australian Institute of Criminology found that shoplifting accounted for 70 per cent of all incidents of crime experienced but accounted for only 42 per cent of all incidents reported to police.
ii. Reality it is far more prevalent & responsible for incredible financial loss. An estimated $730m p.a. [1] - Common attitude ... if we do something wrong ... and it's small ... or steal something 'small' ... it doesn't really matter amazing .. how many have 'arbitrary' standards of honesty
iii. Multitudes ... who would never even imagine robbing a bank / store .. shoplifting, etc ... Have not problem at all "stealing from God" ..
Ecclesiastes 10:1 Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. (NKJV)
II. Peril of Neglect
A. Death by Degrees
i. Valentines Day, - Most Failed Marriages / Relationships ... Backslidings ... Lukewarmness - Not a sudden insane leap of a cliff – more common to be a result of Death by degrees
They say that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will leap out right away to escape the danger. But, if you put a frog in a kettle that is filled with water that is cool and pleasant, and then you gradually heat the kettle until it starts boiling, the frog will not become aware of the threat until it is too late.
ii. Its’ the little carelessness, the neglecting of our spouse, the relationship, the continual drip drip of careless words & actions that build up over time. – The failure to cultivate intimacy in the relationship
iii. It's the 'little' sins of the heart .... that we tolerate ... ignore ... continually excuse the danger ... is in their subtlety ... able to function .. sometimes for an extended time – Neglect to deal with the issue, the sin.
B. Wrong Priorities
i. Not only a matter of neglect but it can also be a misplaced emphasis on the insignificant / irrelevant areas of life – A case of wrong priorities – How many times do you have a marital / relational conflict over a truly major things / real problems ~ Usually it is a small little fox that sets off an explosion
ii. Story of Samson catching the foxes & tying a flaming brand to their tails & letting them go in the grain of the philistines:
Judges 15:4-5 4 Then Samson went and caught three hundred foxes; and he took torches, turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails. 5 When he had set the torches on fire, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves. (NKJV)
iii. We can easily be distracted by the tyranny of the loud urgent “big things” make them the priority and ignore the truly important little things.
III. Discipline
A. Thoughts & Imaginations
i. Key is to be disciplined; - Your actions flow from what you think about, so very important to be disciplined in your thoughts & imaginations
ii. Thoughts ... often are as seeds ... often lodge unoticed ... lay dormant for periods of time ... the fruit not realized until later time How many .. let imaginations simply wander ... indulge in fantasies .. simply let your thoughts get carried away Most .. never actually deal with such things .... "It's just my imagination" ... simply let it pass ...
2 Cor 10:5 C Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (KJV)
iii. How often ... our mind .. literally consumed ... because of what really is a small thing ~ How about when someone has said something about ... when ego / feelings are hurt ... when you don't get the recognition you may or think you may deserve ....
iv. jealousy .. envy .. strife .. contentions ... hatred ... bitterness -> not simply feelings, there are thoughts ... even if we do not deliberately nurture them .... if they are not cast down ... they will germinate
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (NKJV)
" I have never killed anyone ... But I have read many obituaries with great pleasure" .. Clarence Darrow
B. Words
i. How many ... have ever said things ..... Later, deeply regretted do so? ...~ The truth about our words .... we never speak unintentionally
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (NKJV)
ii. It’s what is really in you that will come out in your words. Need to discipline our thoughts so that our words, the little things of the tongue are wholesome & for the uplifting not pulling down.
James 3:2-5 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! (NKJV)
IV. Altar Call
neglect of spritual discipline .... of prayer ... reading of the Word ... assembling together ....
The more you neglect things you should do ... the easier it becomes ...
The more you do 'little' sins ... the easier it is ... to justify other areas ...
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