S.S. 1:6 “Do not stare at me because I am swarthy, for the sun has burned me. My mothers sons were angry with me: they made me caretaker of the vineyards, but I have not taken care of my own vineyard.”
He asked Solomon to not stare at her because her skin was weathered from spending too much time working in the sun. She then says that her mothers son was (for Brothers) were angry with her; and made her take care of the vineyards, but she did not take care of her own vineyard. Vineyards, or gardens, in the song of Solomon, speak of a person’s heart relationship with Jesus. What she is saying here, is that her brothers in Christ have kept her so busy working for Jesus that she has not taken time to cultivate her own heart relationship with Him. She is describing the condition of her soul. This is the sad reality of many Christians today. She is at the point of being burnt out from spending so much time laboring for Jesus, without cultivating a deep relationship with Him. Often our brothers in Christ keep us so busy serving the Lord, that we never learn we are called to be worshipers first and not workers. Only true worshipers develop into anointed workers. This condition is true for so many Christians but especially true for Ministers. It is so easy to be so busy taking care of everybody else’s vineyard that our own vineyard gets in bad shape. Unfortunately, this is the way most churches operate. Worn out Ministers pushing worn out believers. Even the youngest Christians are put to work the moment they join a church, because the ministry has got to go on. Many times, the only ones who will do the work are the new ones, because the older ones are already burnt out. The problem is, you can’t minister out of emptiness. Only people with a healthy vineyard; a healthy heart relationship with Jesus, has enough left over personal fruit to give away to others. This is one of the first things that a believer on the journey to the heights has to learn. Ministry is important; serving is important, but all of that must be an overflow from intimacy. The most precious thing you’ve got in all the world is your personal heart relationship with Jesus. If you are not filled personally then you have nothing to give away. In the last chapter of the Song of Solomon she declares that her very own vineyard is at her disposal. That is the declaration of a healthy heart; of a fruitful soul. Don’t misunderstand me; fruitfulness is good, but fruitfulness comes from abiding. A famous Christian leader years ago made the statement, “Beware of the barrenness of a busy life. ” At this early stage, she is learning that who He is in her, and what He does in her, has to have priority over what He does through her. As a matter of fact, if she doesn’t cultivate a healthy vineyard in her own soul, any work that she might do for Him will be her own labor done in her own strength. A flourishing vineyard; that is a flourishing heart, is a fruitful heart, not as a fruit producer, but as a fruit bearer, because he is the one producing fruit supernaturally.