Solomon puts a bottle of perfume on the table. It smells terrible. In the bottom of the bottle is a large dead fly. The dead fly caused the perfume to have a stinking smell. Little things can ruin big things. Somebody forgot to put the top on the bottle. A fly will get into the perfume and cause it to stink.

Solomon contrasts the wise with the fool. It is the small things buzzing around in your life that can ruin bigger things. This is true in all areas of life. Little flies can cause big problems. The fool allows the fly to get into the ointment. One moment of indiscretion can ruin your life. Solomon discovered this in his life.

The right hand in the Bible is a symbol of God’s protection. The fool is on the left hand. A fool gives himself away by the way he lives his life. There are three types of fool mentioned here and we can see the fly in their ointment.

1 – The hearty fool (vs. 4-7)

The hot-tempered person will be hot-headed. Let there be only one fool in the place! Don’t you get mad as well. You need to control your temper. There is a way to handle it. We are to have a calm spirit. Fools get promoted by the hearty fool. It is not what you know – it is who you know. The people who are down low should be up high and those up high should be down low. We are not to complain. We are to wait on the Lord.

2 – The hapless fool (vs. 8-11)

This person is operating without any thought. This person digs a hole and falls into it. This person tries to move a stone and it falls on him. These people live their lives without any caution or preparation. The just act and don’t think. They do what they feel. They are like a fly in the ointment. They do not think of the long time ramifications. They are chopping with a dull axe.

Too many people today borrow and spend money without thinking about how they will pay for it. You are digging your own hole. Don’t let the fly get into the ointment. There is a snake that is going to bit you. You need to think of the repercussions.

3 – The hurtful fool (vs. 12-14)

This person can hurt people with the tongue. This person uses word to hurt other people. A person who is wise will speak gracious words. The fool will swallow himself up with his own words. See Colossians 4:6 & Ephesians 4:29.

The fool will tear down. The wise man will build up with his words. Will you be a hurtful fool because the other person is? A soft answer turns away wrath. You don’t need two fools in the house! There will be wrath. Someone is going to get hurt.

A wise person will be gracious. He will not be continually bringing up the past. Let the past be the past. If you can control your tongue, you can control your whole body. See James 3. No man can tame it but God can tame it. The hurtful fool does not know when to stop talking. They use too many words.

See what can happen – all because of one dead fly! Don’t let the fly get into your ointment!

Categories: Ecclesiastes