Ecclesiastes 10:1-10: a reflection

1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor. 2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left. 3Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. 4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest. 5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler. 6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place. 7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth. 8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it. 10If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

Ecclesiastes opens a chapter of wisdom with a vivid image: Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. A few dead flies can spoil a whole jar of costly perfume, turning something fragrant into something foul. And so, the Teacher says, a little folly can outweigh and spoil a reputation of wisdom and honor built up over years. A small foolish act can ruin much good.

Notice the disproportion the image captures. It does not take much to spoil a great deal. A few dead flies ruin a whole jar of precious ointment; a single foolish act can undo a lifetime's reputation for wisdom and integrity. The good was built up slowly, over years; the folly that spoils it can be small and quick. A little foolishness carries more weight in the ruining than all the accumulated wisdom carried in the building.

That is a sobering caution to attend to the small things. We can guard the big matters carefully and be undone by a small folly, a careless word, a moment's indiscretion, a single foolish choice that spoils what took years to build. A reputation for wisdom and honor is fragile; a little folly can outweigh it. So do not be careless in the small things, thinking only the big matters count. Guard against the small follies, the careless words and moments, that can spoil much good. Like dead flies in perfume, a little foolishness can ruin a great deal; watch the small things carefully.

Lord, your word warns that as dead flies spoil the perfumer's ointment, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. Help me attend to the small things. Keep me from guarding the big matters carefully while being undone by a small folly, a careless word, a moment's indiscretion, a single foolish choice that spoils what took years to build. Guard me against the little follies that can ruin much good. Help me watch the small things, knowing how easily a little foolishness can spoil a great deal. Keep me wise in the small as well as the great.