When you set out to do something for the Lord, be prepared for the devil to fight. This journey through Ecclesiastes has taken longer than I had planned. I am finally sitting down to write on chapter 10 of Ecclesiastes. I started with such zeal to share God's word with you. The zeal has remained, but not long into starting this journey we faced some circumstances that made it necessary for me to seek God in keeping my heart right and not allowing the frustration of those circumstances to come out in my posts. I couldn't allow myself to just jump the gun and write everything that came to mind. While there would have been great truths, it wouldn't have always come from right motives. I am very opinionated and I have a heart that likes to fix things. Getting older has taught me that it isn't always my role to be the fixer. And as much as I hate to admit it, my great opinions don't always seem to help or change things. The devil works hard at side tracking us from our goal on a daily basis. It is a daily walk with Jesus to keep this mortal man focused. I am excited to finally be sitting down and sharing my heart with you about chapter 10 in Ecclesiastes. Let's make it a daily goal to ask Jesus to help us keep our focus on the eternal, on things 'above the sun'. It takes Godly wisdom to handle life's circumstances. This chapter gives us some great advice on behaving ourselves wisely.
I have to be completely honest. I read verse one about 5 times and wondered what in the world was meant by ' dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour'. I have read Ecclesiastes plenty of times and for some reason that has never stood out to me. What does he mean by that? So, I pulled out my dictionary and searched online to learn about apothecary and why oil is used and where the flies would be coming from with the process. The dictionary says that apothecary is one that practices pharmacy. It also says that in the middle ages an apothecary was the keeper of any shop. The Biblical Illustrator listed on studylight.org gave a little more history. I really liked what the writer had to say. It is lengthy, but I think it sheds light to what is being said in verse one. It actually goes into further depth, but I am sharing the following portion of the text:
"Among the Jews, oil rendered fragrant by being mixed with precious drugs was used for many different purposes. With it priests and kings were anointed when they entered upon their offices, guests at the tables of the rich were treated to it as a luxury. It was used medicinally for outward application to the bodies of the sick; and with it corpses, and the clothes in which they were wrapped, were besprinkled before burial. Very great care was needed in the preparation of the material used for such special purposes. Elaborately confected as the ointment was, it was easily spoiled and rendered worthless. It was accordingly necessary not only to take great pains in making it, but also in preserving it from contamination when made. A dead fly would soon corrupt the ointment, and turn it into a pestilent odour. So says the Preacher, a noble and attractive character may be corrupted and destroyed by a little folly; an insignificant-looking fault or weakness may outweigh great gifts and attainments. The fault which shows itself in a character is not like a stain or flaw in a marble statue, which is confined to one spot, and is no worse after the lapse of years, but like a sore in a living body, which weakens and may destroy the whole organism. One cause why evil influence spreads is that we are not on our guard against it, and it may grow to almost ungovernable strength before we are really convinced that there is any danger. We can recognize at once great errors and heinous vices, and the alarm and disgust they excite prepare us to resist them; but the little follies and weaknesses often fill us with an amused contempt for them which blinds us to their great power for evil. So numerous are the sources from which danger arises, that a long list might be made of the little sins by which the characters of many good men and women are often marred: indolence, selfishness, love of ease, procrastination, indecision, rudeness, irritability, oversensitiveness to praise or blame, vanity, boastfulness, talkativeness, love of gossip, undue laxity, undue severity, want of self-control over appetites and passions, obstinacy, parsimony. Numerous though these follies are, they may be reduced into two great classes--faults of weakness and faults of strength."
So, great emphasis is given on how a little folly can ruin your reputation. Webster's Dictionary says folly is a 'weakness of intellect', 'a weak or absurd act not highly criminal', or 'an absurd act which is highly sinful; any conduct contrary to the laws of God or man.' Solomon warns in Song of Solomon 2:15, 'Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.'
Only God knows who we really are in the deep secret places of our hearts. Eventually, what is in your heart will be acted upon. It is so important to allow Jesus to shape and mold our lives. Allow him to change those things in our hearts that need to be changed. Search your heart. What direction are you being led in your life right now? Your life will go in the direction of your heart. Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:37, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.' We must submit ourselves fully to the Lord.
In verse 4 Solomon talks about dealing with an angry ruler. He says not to yield to that spirit of anger. That advice is not only great for dealing with angry rulers. It is great every day advice when confronted with anger or the temptation to get angry. Don't yield!! It will only bring great offences. Be determined be calm and practice self control. You may find yourself surprised at the peaceful resolution.
Verses 5-7 continue talking about the potential for leaders to not always be wise. Sometimes the foolish rule and the rich men sit in low places. We will not always understand the why or how of circumstances or positions. No circumstance we go through, nothing we can acquire (no matter how great or how little) will ever be anything without God. When God uses what little we have, it becomes all we could ever need or even want.
I love Solomon's nuggets of wisdom. In verses 8 and 9 he talks about the potential to get hurt while working. A lot of places of employment have safety meetings. Meetings with a purpose of reminding you to use a little wisdom while working to save yourself some hurt down the road. Taking the little bit of extra time to do things safely can save yourself a lot of pain and save your employer a lot of money. Verse 10 says, 'If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.' A wise worker sharpens that dull ax before using it. It may take a little more time, but it will help you out a lot when getting the job done. A little bit of wisdom goes a long way.
We can also look at verse 10 and ask ourselves if there is an area in our lives that is feeling dull or worn out. What areas do we need to allow the Lord to sharpen? What areas are we not allowing him to take care of and wearing ourselves out trying to do it alone? Maybe we need some alone time with our Lord to sharpen our edges. Maybe it is time for a lunch date with a great Christian friend to help sharpen your ax. We need the Lord and we need each other. It sure helps us in our journey.
Verse 11 teaches us that running our mouth can get us in trouble. Webster defines babbling as 'idle talk, telling secrets, foolish talk.' 2 Timothy 2:16-17 says, ' But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker:' Matthew 12:36-37 says, 'But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shall be justified, and by thy works though shalt be condemned.' Boy, if that isn't something to think on!
'The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? The labor of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.' (vs 12-15) What do our words prove in our own lives? Are our words kind, gracious, humble, encouraging, full of truth, full of love? Are we building others up or are we tearing them down? Proverbs 12:13-18 says, 'The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. They way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame. He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.' We must guard our hearts and we must watch our words. What comes out of our mouths is our daily walking, talking testimony. Verse 20 also deals with guarding our tongue. We may think things are said in secret, but if it comes out of our mouth it will end up with 'wings' and it will be told. Lord help us to cautiously guard our tongues.
Verses 16-19 again deal with leadership. Solomon contrast strong and weak leadership. Solomon was young when he inherited the role as king and he knew the importance of wisdom in ruling. Strong, effective leadership is not lazy. We do not want our lives to have idle words or idle hands. We are children of the most high King. We want to be excellent examples for his kingdom and for his glory.
It isn't always easy. Some days it is a full time job to keep my very opinionated opinions to myself. My idle words will not do God's kingdom any good. Some days I don't feel like doing anything, but I cannot just sit around and do nothing all day. It just doesn't work that way. We have a work to do. We have daily work to do that tells loudly who we are and is a direct reflection of our Father. Your life speaks louder than your words.
Solomon asked God for wisdom to rule the people and God granted is request. Solomon's heart was in the right place at that moment and because of his request, blessings were brought on the entire nation of Israel during Solomon's reign. What blessings will you bring to your family, co-workers, neighbors, friends, or even your county?
