Lesson 11

A Little Foolishness: Harmless Or Dangerous?

Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

Ecclesiastes 10 is a chapter which immediately grabs your attention. The first two words in this chapter are "dead flies." "Apothecary is an old English word for a druggist or a pharmacist, In fact, that word is still used in England. Thus, "the ointment of the apothecary" is talking about some form of medicine. In ancient times, fragrant oils and ointments were commonly used for medicinal purposes. How would you feel if you opened up what you expected to be a container of fragrant ointment and discovered a foul odor that had come from dead flies? Yuck! That is the image that Solomon uses to illustrate what just a "little foolishness" does to the reputation of a wise man Solomon has already compared a good reputation to precious ointment (7:1). But here, he gives the other side of that. A good reputation has the fragrance of an expensive ointment, but just a little foolishness can ruin and stink up one's reputation like dead flies in medicine. The theme of this passage is "folly". Some form of that word (fool, folly, foolish, foolishness) is found at least 9 times in 20 verses.

A little folly, a little foolishness seems to be innocent and harmless, wouldn't you say? But Solomon says that even a little foolishness is dangerous. Like the image portrayed in verse 1, this whole chapter is filled with intriguing and vivid pictures of wisdom and foolishness.

For example, notice v. 2. Which side is your heart located on? What does that make you? Me, too! But Solomon is not writing about the physical organ, the pump that circulates blood through our bodies. He is writing about the center of our life, the master control that governs the issues of life. Prov. 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. In the ancient world, the right hand sideways always considered a place of power and honor, while the left hand side was thought to be a place of weakness and rejection. Judges 3:15, for example, makes a point at telling us that Ehud, one of the judges was left handed. Remember, when Jesus spoke of the judgment of the nation (Matthew 25)? The sheep were on God's right hand and the goats were on his left (vs. 33, 41). The wise man gravitates toward that which is right but the fool gravitates toward that which is wrong, Furthermore, Solomon says that a fool is easily recognizable, even along the highway, v. 3. Having laid down the basic principle, Solomon then applied it to four different fools.

A Foolish Ruler, 10:4-7.

If there is one person who needs wisdom, it is the ruler of a nation. When God asked Solomon what gift he especially wanted, Solomon requested wisdom. Former President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, "A president's hardest task is not to do what is right, but to know what's right." Knowing what is right requires wisdom.

These four verses point out two things that get in the way of wisdom for a ruler. The first is hot-headedness, v. 4. Rulers often throw their weight around on those who work for them. They get mad and act like a fool. However, the advice of this verse is directed toward the person who is the recipient of a wrathful ruler. It isn't necessary for you to act like a fool, too. Maintain self- control and stand your ground. Prov. 25:15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. Prov. 16:14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. Prov. 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Vs. 5-7 tells us of another foolish thing for a ruler to do. Rulers are sometimes poor judges of character. That is, to put the wrong people in positions of authority. Foolishness is given a position of dignity while men possessing nobility are overlooked, v. 6. Those who should be leading are following and those who should be following are leading, v. 7. Rehaboam, Solomon's son, did just that. He ignored the counsel of the elders and listened to the advice of his young party buddies. By doing this, he split the kingdom. The best rulers are tough-minded but tender-hearted people don't throw their weight around with their sour temper and who put the best people on horses and let others walk.

A Foolish Worker, 10:8-11.

The next section gives a list of situations that have symbolic applications regarding foolishness. The point is that fools fail to see danger.

The Situation / The Danger

v.8 Digging a pit ® Falling into it.

v.8 Breaking through a hedge ® Getting bit by a snake.

v.9 Quarrying stones ® Being hurt by falling stones.

v.9 Splitting logs ® Endangering yourself.

v.10 Chopping wood ® Overexertion due to a dull axe.

The dangers listed in these situations appear to be elementary, even obvious. The point is that a fool fails to see potential danger. He fails to think ahead. Verse 11makes reference to a snake charmer, always a popular form of entertainment in the eastern world. There are at least two other references to snake charmers in the Old Testament (Ps. 58:4-5; Jer. 8:17). Solomon paints the image of a snake charmer get bit, while babbling on to a potential customer over the price for seeing his act, before he has had a chance the charm the snake. Once the horse is stolen, it's too late to lock the barn. Once the snakes out the basket and has bitten you, it's too late to make a profit at snake charming. Think ahead! A fool is always too late.

A Foolish Talker, 10:12-15.

A fool's words are self-destructive, v. 12. A wise person speaks graciously. Prov 10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. A fool is consumed by his own lips. A fool's words are senseless, v.13. They start out stupid and get crazier the longer he talks. Prov 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. Prov 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. A fool's words are endless, v. 14a. Prov 10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. Finally, a fool's words are boastful. Foolish people are forever talking about the future as though the either know all about it or are in control of what will happen. There is a bit of humor here. The fool boasts about his future plans and wearies people with his talk, but he cannot even find the way to the city!

A Foolish Prince, 10:16-20.

The emphasis here is on the prince. The Hebrew word means anyone who is an officer of the court. It is an indication of a curse upon the land if the king is a child - an immature person. For those who are officers in the court will indulge, v. 16. However, when a person of true nobility is on the throne, his officers will eat because they need strength and not just for indulgence. This indicates blessing from God, v. 17. The point is that indulgence is foolish and wrong.

So is laziness (v. 18) and indifference (v. 19). Everything we do requires maintenance and upkeep. Your house - your lawn - your car - your marriage - your family life - your spiritual life. There is no place for laziness in the Christian life. V. 19 expresses the indifferent attitude of some. They live not to work but to party. They think that money will solve all problems.

Another wrong and foolish thing for a prince to do is to show indiscretion, especially in criticism of the king. You've heard the saying, "A little bird told me." It probably came from this verse. What we say in confidence often has a way of traveling through the grapevine to the very person of whom we were critical. Don't talk about someone behind their back.

Don't even be a little foolish. Be wise! And if you lack wisdom, ask God who giveth to all men liberally.