In a day when seemingly everything is being recorded, whether we agree to it or not, it’s amazing that people in prominent positions get caught saying things or doing things they ought not be doing. Actually, we have all been warned to keep the guard up because “just a little folly” can create a big stink.
Ecclesiastes 10:1 (ESV) — 1 Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
That verse in the KJV is actually the basis of the expression, “A fly in the ointment.”
Ecclesiastes 10:1 (KJV) — 1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
Just a little folly can bring great harm to a reputation, hence the need to be on guard lest our reputation becomes a stench.
You might think of Peter, who seemed to be quick to speak, maybe not in jest, nevertheless, speaking without thinking things through.
Matthew 16:21–22 (ESV) — 21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
I’m sure that Peter’s motives were pure in that he was devoted the Lord Jesus Christ and couldn’t standthe thought of what Jesus was teaching concerning His upcoming suffering. However, Peter was in no place to rebuke the Son of God. Therefore, Peter’s honor of being one of the close disciples of Jesus dipped considerably with Jesus’ response.
Matthew 16:23 (ESV) — 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Sadly, Peter was rebuked by Jesus another time when Jesus informed His disciples of His upcoming suffering which would include all of His disciples being offended and keeping their distance from Him.
Mark 14:26–28 (ESV) — 26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
Peter, however stepped up to proclaim his allegiance and how Jesus could count on him. Woops! Peter spoke too soon as Jesus foretold what Peter would do that very night.
Mark 14:29–31 (ESV) — 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.
Just a little folly spoken in haste has a lasting consequence to Peter’s reputation. Sadly, it doesn’t stop there. Since Peter was an early spokesman for the church as the first to preach to the Gentiles, later Paul had to rebuke him as he gave into the Judaizers and wouldn’t eat with Gentile Christians.
Galatians 2:11–16 (ESV) — 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” 15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Just a little folly, just a little deviation from causes the ointment of our lives to stink and the next thing you know we could be best known for our folly, rather than the way we have followed the Lord Jesus Christ. Consider the words of the apostle Paul:
1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV) — 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
On the other hand, consider the one who wrote the text upon which we are focused.
Ecclesiastes 10:1 (ESV) — 1 Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
These are words written by Solomon in his latter days which seemed to be a return to the words of wisdom, maybe spoken from his experience of folly as the record shows his turning away from God under the influence of his many wives.
1 Kings 11:4 (ESV) — 4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
Ecclesiastes 10:1 (ESV) — 1 Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
It’s good to glean from the word of God, including the examples of those who have suffered from “a little folly.”
Proverbs 22:17 (ESV) — 17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,
May we take heed as Solomon and Peter would echo the words, “don’t do what I have done.”
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
