“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 NKJV). Dead flies are the best kind, if you ask me. The live ones buzz around, irritating us, making us reach for the flyswatter. The ancients didn’t like flies either. I wonder: Did they have flyswatters, too?
While dead flies are usually welcome, there are certain places we wouldn’t want them. Solomon offered an example—in perfume. Imagine reaching for a bottle of your favorite perfume, ready to apply a little, and you notice, floating there on the top, a big (but very dead) fly. Still want to put some on? Suddenly, that perfume doesn’t smell as good. As a matter of fact, that perfume stinks!
So, what was Solomon’s point? He was noting a fact of life: A relatively small defect can ruin a good thing.
This proverb is a call for clearheadedness. It is a plea for us to think—think about what we do and think about what we say. The fact is, one careless word or deed can quickly ruin a lot of good and wise actions. Solomon noted, “…so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.” One fly ruins a big bottle of perfume, and one foolish act ruins a lifetime of wise and honorable acts. This demonstrates just how powerful foolishness is.
Therefore, let us walk carefully. We must use God’s Word as our lamp and guide. By so doing, we can avoid foolish acts and maintain our positive influence on those around us (Ephesians 5:15-17).
