Text: Ecclesiastes 10:1
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Eccl. 10:1—Dead flies make gthe perfumer’s
ointment give off a stench; so a little folly
outweighs wisdom and honor. (ESV)
Eccl. 10:1—Dead flies cause the ointment of the
aapothecary to bsend forth a stinking savour: so
doth a little cfolly him that is in reputation for
wisdom and honour. (KJV)
Eccl. 10:1—As dead flies give perfume a bad
smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and
honor. (NIV)
Eccl. 10:1—Dead flies make a aperfumer’s oil
stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than
wisdom and honor. (NASB 95)
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Eccl. 9:18—Wisdom is better than weapons of
war, but one sinner destroys much good.
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Context: A wise but poor man is able to deliver a
city.
 Therefore wisdom is greater than strength (v.16)
 Therefore wisdom is than weapons of war. (v.18)
 In the process of the wise delivering the city, all it
would take is one sinner to botch things up.
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Priest and kings were anointed with it when
they entered upon their offices. (1 Samuel
16:13)
Guests at the table of the rich were treated to it
as a luxury. (Amos 6:6; Luke 7:46)
It was used medicinally for outward
application to the bodies of the sick. (Isaiah
1:6; Jeremiah 8:22; Mark 6:13)
It was sprinkled on bodies of the dead before
burial. (Genesis 50:2, 3, 26; Mark 16:1)
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Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible:
“It was necessary to exercise great care in storing
unguents and perfumes. They kept best in alabaster or
lead boxes and were stored in the shade because sunshine
was harmful to them…Vases have been found in tombs
with scent still clinging to them. The lids of the jars were
sealed and the vessel, usually the neck, was broken to
pour out the contents (cf. Mark 14:3).” (page 517)
 “Ointments were prized highly in ancient times.
Hezekiah displayed them in his treasure house to the
representatives of the king of Babylon (2 Kings 20:13).
They were used for payment of tribute (Hos. 12:1). Amos
considered them evidence of luxurious living (Amos 6:6;
Eccl. 7:1).” (Page 517)
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Song of Solomon 2:15---Catch lthe foxes1 for
us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards,
ffor our vineyards are in blossom.”
1 Cor. 5:6—Your boasting is not good. Do you
not know that ga little leaven leavens the
whole lump?
Eccl. 9:18—Wisdom is better than weapons of
war, but one sinner destroys much good.
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“It is a painful fact that a little folly, one foolish act, one
silly peculiarity of manner or disposition, will suffice to
impair the real value of a man’s wisdom and the
estimation in which he was held. The little element of
Illustration:
foolishness, like the
little insect in the ointment,
obscures
the real
of the
man,
and deprives
When
youexcellence
think of
king
David
him of the honour that is really his due. And in
what is your first thought?
religion we know that one fault unchecked, one secret
When you
think
of the
apostle
sin cherished,
poisons
the whole
character,
makes a
manPeter
lose the
grace is
of your
God.” first
(“Ecclesiastes,”
The Pulpit
what
thought?
Commentary, Vol. 9, p. 249)
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Luke 18:18-22— And a ruler asked him,
The Rich Young Ruler Had Many Good Qualities:
vinherit
“Good
Teacher,
what
must
I
do
to
 He believed in God and in a better world to come (Matthew
19
19:16) eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why
do you call
me good?
No life
one
is good
 He was genuinely
interested
in eternal
(Mark
10:17)except
20 You
 He realized
God
that
alone.
if he was
goingknow
to be saved,
the commandments:
he had to do
something
w‘Do
himself
not(Matthew
commit 19:16)
adultery, Do not murder,
 He realized that Jesus had the answers that he needed
Do not steal, Do not bear false witness,
 He dared to associate with Jesus
Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 And he
 He was at the very
least very respectful, if not reverent of Jesus
x
said,
I have
my youth.”
because he
knelt“All
whenthese
he came
beforekept
him. from
(Mk. 10:17)
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him,
 He had obeyed
the commandments of God. (Matt. 19:20)
ySell all that you
“OneGod
thing
you
 He had served
from
hisstill
youthlack.
up. (Mark
10:20)
 He longed
have
to press
andon
distribute
to perfection.
to (Mt.
the poor,
19:20) and you will
ztreasure in heaven; and come, follow
have
But he had
ONE
trait that held him back.
me.”
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A negative attitude
Haughtiness and Egotism
Rashness
A hot temper
A sharp tongue
Irritability
Insensitivity
Over-sensitivity
Intolerance
Over-tolerance
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Nosiness
Laziness
Thoughtlessness
Point: We need not commit every sin
Inconsiderate
imaginable, nor even the most wicked
wrong one can conceive, to hinder our
effective service to God …one little “fly”
will do it! (James 2:9-10)
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Application:
We all have flaws
in our character so there
havefor
a problem
with
a quick
should If
beyou
a place
tolerance.
(Eccl.
7:21-22;
temper, then that is something you need
Eph. 4:1-3)
to work on, and not ignore.
We need to recognize we can be too tolerant.
If you are given to a negative,
 Too tolerant with self
pessimistic outlook on life, then you
 Too tolerant with others
need to try to change that, not accept it.
 Are we willing to accept character flaws without
If
you
have
a
haughty
spirit,
then
you
trying to overcome them?
need to develop a humble spirit.
If you are inconsiderate, then you need
to really work at being considerate.
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Haman had one (Esther 5:11-13).
Ahab had one (1 Kings 21:1-4).
Do we had a touch of Ahab or Haman in
us?
 Do we focus on what we’ve been
blessed with?
 Do we focus on the one thing we don’t
have?
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Phil. 4:6-9— do not be anxious about anything, sbut in
everything by prayer and supplication twith
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to
God. 7 And uthe peace of God, vwhich surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is
true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is
anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 What you have learned and wreceived and heard and
seen xin me—practice these things, and ythe God of
peace will be with you.
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Remember Achan? (Joshua 7)
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One man ruined the opportunity for victory at Ai.
In the local church:
 One wolf can devour many sheep. (Matt. 7:15; 1 Peter
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2:1-3; Acts 20:29,30)
One factious man or woman can sow discord and keep
things in an uproar or even cause an open division
(Romans 16:17-18)
One mouthy person (with a bad attitude) can disrupt
Bible class.
One Diotrophes can drive away many good brethren.
(3 John 9-10)
One ungodly member can ruin a whole church’s
reputation in the community (1 Cor. 5:1).
One wagging tongue can cause much hurt.
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A fly in our thinking?
A fly in our character?
A fly in the oil in the local church?
When others think of us what is the first thing
that comes to mind? Is it positive or negative?
Is there something ruining your influence?
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This sermon was borrowed from brother Kevin
Kay and later reworked by Lee Hyatt.
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