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. Ecclesiastes 10:1
Acting foolish is often seen as a common thing and just someone being silly. It is seen as harmless and acceptable, as long as it is not a constant ongoing thing that is occurring. Movies and ads promote being and doing things that are foolish and that one should be willing to push the limits of what should not be done.
Solomon talks of dead flies destroying perfume and causing the perfume to have a bad odor. He then points out that in the same way one who has been respected for wisdom and honor gives off a bad odor who does a little foolishness.
Older people often think of themselves as having been very foolish when they were teen-agers. Teens many times will do things that are very foolish and dangerous. They tend to test the limits of what can or should be done, sometimes causing some very disastrous, long-term problems from their actions.
Although teens are known for this, many adults tend to act in the same way. Well respected men and women in the social and business world will often do very foolish things, just to have fun or to satisfy some desire. Drugs, sexual immorality, drunkenness, lying, cheating, stealing and much more are done in a sudden act of foolishness, destroying their reputation.
Dead flies will destroy many things and cause something that is good smelling to have a bad odor. In the same way a sudden foolish act will cause a bad stench.
Sin brings about the odor of death. Believers are to stay away from foolish acts of sin and death. They are to carry about the sweet aroma of life that Jesus provides.
Every word you speak and action you do carries an odor with it. Those actions and words point people either to Jesus or to death. When you do something foolish and step into sin, you bring about the odor of death. It causes a stench upon what Jesus has done for you in your life.
Do not let a moment of foolish pleasure putrefy the holiness and righteousness God is producing in your life. Keep your life pure and holy unto God before all people, bringing about the sweet aroma of life to all.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will reveal foolish acts in your life; that God will give you strength to overcome temptations to do foolish acts; and that you will be a sweet aroma of Jesus to the world.
Picture by Nick Windsor on Unsplash
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