Ecclesiastes 10:1

10 Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a foul odor;^[a]
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

Leave it to the writer of Ecclesiastes — “The Preacher” to point out the obvious. Most Florida flies aren’t that large. We can shoo them away, or ignore them at a picnic, but they can spoil some of the goodness in life. And let a dead fly or two find their way into the perfume, and it will no longer smell that good.

So, a little folly in life might be more than just a nuisance. Like a fly in the ointment, some of our stupid actions can outweigh our wisest thoughts.

Prayer

God, let me pay attention to even my least obvious improper behaviors, so that these things don’t take away from my desire to live the good life you intend for me, as a follower of my Lord Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.