A minor drip in one bathroom quickly turned in to a major leak taking out the ceiling after last week’s 7½ inches of rain. Yes, I had procrastinated repairing the roof since it had made only a small stain on the ceiling and presented no major threat, or so I thought. Yesterday I purchased new sheetrock and had everything prepped to install the new ceiling this morning. The local weatherman reported only a ‘very slight’ chance of rain in our area. Because it was late and I was tired, I left it on the back of my truck overnight. I’m sure some of you have already guessed where the ‘very slight chance’ of rain fell—in my yard and on my new piece of sheetrock. So this morning I’ll go buy another sheet. The lesson: take action on small things because they can quickly develop into large problems and even when you are tired, don’t leave yourself open for more trouble.
These principles are no less true for our spiritual life. Solomon wrote, Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards (SS 2:15). Adult foxes would come and eat the grapes, but the small young foxes could not reach the fruit and would dig at the base and eat the tender roots, which eventually killed the entire plant. This verse is in context of marriage warning that little things left unresolved can destroy a marriage. In the United States, 40%–50% of marriages end in divorce and most often result from small issues that were never resolved and grew into large problems until the relationship died.
When Israel entered the land of the Canaanites, God told them to destroy all the inhabitants of the land (Jos 9:24). The sins of the Canaanites had reached such a level after years of the Lord’s longsuffering that now He was bringing judgement against them. He commanded Israel, you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them . . . you shall tear down their altars, and smash their sacred pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire (Deut 7:2, 3, 5). The reason: For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods (Deut 7:4). Problem: Israel never fulfilled this command. But the sons of Israel did not dispossess the Geshurites or the Maacathites (Jos 13:13); But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites live in the midst of Ephraim to this day, and they became forced laborers (16:10); But the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of these cities, because the Canaanites persisted in living in that land (17:12).
Before his death, Joshua’s instructed Israel that until they drove out or destroyed the remaining nations they were not to associate with them or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear by them (Jos 23:7). These nations probably seemed small and manageable to Israel. After years of war, I’m sure the people were ready to settle in their promised land. However, the history of Israel records they never drove them out, showed favor to them, intermarried with them, made covenants, and let their idols remain. Their failure to utterly destroy the Canaanites eventually lead to the nation’s downfall into sin and God’s judgment on Israel by the Assyrians and the Babylonians.
Paul reprimanded the church at Corinth because they disregarded the immoral sin of a member and warned them their lack of dealing with even the smallest sin could affect the entire church. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough (1Cor 5:6)? He also admonished the Galatian church over succumbing to teaching of the Judaizers about legalistic practices such as circumcision. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough (Gal 5:9). In other words, even a little false teaching could expand like leaven and lead them back to a yoke of slavery (5:1).
I have tripped and sprained my right ankle so many times that it appears I have a second anklebone—it grosses out my children when they see it. I have never tripped on a big boulder; it has always happened when I fell because of a small stone or little piece of debris. Satan most often tempts us with the small things knowing it can lead to a greater sin. I’ve heard Christians try to excuse the lesser unconquered areas in their life, “A little bit never hurt anybody?” Yet, small compromises can lead to drastic consequences. They may appear like the minor drip on my ceiling that quickly turned into major leak making a huge mess because I had not dealt with it. Do you have some minor leaks, unconquered areas that you see as small and believe you can manage them? Even the tiniest thing is like leaven. It will expand and can permeate your entire being.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Keep growing in Christ until every area is conquered and your spiritual enemies are utterly destroyed. Don’t wait!