A Few Dead Flies
Introduction. We have all known the frustration of finding something ruined because of neglect. Fresh fruit or vegetables gone bad because we waited too long to use them. A child losing a toy left out in the rain. A neglected leak under a sink leading to the loss of cabinets, floors or even walls. A neglected sore leading to skin cancer.
Worse are spiritual neglects. Ignoring a “small” lust or area of folly will corrupt our heart and ruin precious relationships. “Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor” (Eccl. 10:1). “A little leaven leavens the whole lump,” “evil company corrupts good habits.” (1Cor. 5:5; 15:33). “Their talk will spread like gangrene” (2Tim. 2:17). “He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption” (Gal. 6:8).
We need to carefully consider the “dead flies” of “folly” and what it can do to “wisdom and honor.” We don’t have to look any further than the man who wrote these words! Solomon’s “little folly” was ignoring God’s simple warning. “When you come into the land” and “set a king over you, “he shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away” (Deut. 17:15-17). While Solomon counseled others to “ trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Pr. 3:5), inexplicably he ignored his own inspired words.
Perhaps he believed with his great wisdom given by God, his inspiration, and his great love and devotion toward the Lord, he could withstand this danger. Although these were great “defenses,” they did not protect him from the “folly” of ignoring the wisdom of God. This “little folly” did “give a foul odor” to Solomon who had been “respected of wisdom and honor.” These wives did “turn his heart to evil” (1Kings 11:1-4)! “Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.” After seeing God in a dream, writing Scripture, and seeing God’s glory fill the temple, Solomon not only worshiped idols, but even built temples for them.
These women worked on his heart like “dead flies” on “perfume” Their "evil companionship corrupted,” and his small compromises led to full rebellion. If this could happen to Solomon, how can we be safe? Truly, “let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.” This folly destroyed all the fruits of his faithful labor, “the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice” (1Kings 11:5-10).
Are there any “dead flies” in our own life? Have we set aside any clear warnings from God, hoping we could do what Solomon could not? Have we “desired to be rich,” hoping to avoid the “temptation and snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts” (1Tim. 6:9)? Have we begun “forsaking the assembly” believing we could avoid the consequences of this “wilful sin” (Heb 10:23-27)? Are we “adding to our faith” so we are not “idle,” “fruitless” or “blind?” (2Pet. 1:3-11)? We must never forget our own danger of allowing “dead flies” to “putrefy” our good works?
Any time we stop “trusting in the Lord with all our heart” and begin “leaning on our own understanding” we risk this outcome. We can spend a lifetime building a good reputation and influence, and in a moment of folly leave a “foul odor.” This is something to consider before we decide our next word or action. Consequences can often be more far reaching than we ever imagined. When king Saul ‘forced himself’ to offer a burnt offering it cost him his kingdom (1Sam. 13:7-12). When David saw Bathsheba bathing, he had a few moments to consider his actions before lust conceived sin and brought “the sword” that “shall never depart from your house” (2Sam. 11:1-5;12:10-11). Gehazi’s decision to ask Naaman for a talent of silver and clothing led to “the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever” (2Kings 5:20-27).
Conclusion. The next time we are tempted to set aside God’s command, we need to remember David’s words of anguish. ‘And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!’ (2Sam. 18:33)
David’s agony was for more than Absalom’s death. He knew his own “dead flies” had led to this. How could anyone bear the agony of knowing that by their own choices they had destroyed one of their own, not just in time, but perhaps for all eternity? Yet such decisions become the “dead flies” destroying the wonderful perfume of an honorable life.
Worse are spiritual neglects. Ignoring a “small” lust or area of folly will corrupt our heart and ruin precious relationships. “Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor” (Eccl. 10:1). “A little leaven leavens the whole lump,” “evil company corrupts good habits.” (1Cor. 5:5; 15:33). “Their talk will spread like gangrene” (2Tim. 2:17). “He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption” (Gal. 6:8).
We need to carefully consider the “dead flies” of “folly” and what it can do to “wisdom and honor.” We don’t have to look any further than the man who wrote these words! Solomon’s “little folly” was ignoring God’s simple warning. “When you come into the land” and “set a king over you, “he shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away” (Deut. 17:15-17). While Solomon counseled others to “ trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Pr. 3:5), inexplicably he ignored his own inspired words.
Perhaps he believed with his great wisdom given by God, his inspiration, and his great love and devotion toward the Lord, he could withstand this danger. Although these were great “defenses,” they did not protect him from the “folly” of ignoring the wisdom of God. This “little folly” did “give a foul odor” to Solomon who had been “respected of wisdom and honor.” These wives did “turn his heart to evil” (1Kings 11:1-4)! “Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.” After seeing God in a dream, writing Scripture, and seeing God’s glory fill the temple, Solomon not only worshiped idols, but even built temples for them.
These women worked on his heart like “dead flies” on “perfume” Their "evil companionship corrupted,” and his small compromises led to full rebellion. If this could happen to Solomon, how can we be safe? Truly, “let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.” This folly destroyed all the fruits of his faithful labor, “the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice” (1Kings 11:5-10).
Are there any “dead flies” in our own life? Have we set aside any clear warnings from God, hoping we could do what Solomon could not? Have we “desired to be rich,” hoping to avoid the “temptation and snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts” (1Tim. 6:9)? Have we begun “forsaking the assembly” believing we could avoid the consequences of this “wilful sin” (Heb 10:23-27)? Are we “adding to our faith” so we are not “idle,” “fruitless” or “blind?” (2Pet. 1:3-11)? We must never forget our own danger of allowing “dead flies” to “putrefy” our good works?
Any time we stop “trusting in the Lord with all our heart” and begin “leaning on our own understanding” we risk this outcome. We can spend a lifetime building a good reputation and influence, and in a moment of folly leave a “foul odor.” This is something to consider before we decide our next word or action. Consequences can often be more far reaching than we ever imagined. When king Saul ‘forced himself’ to offer a burnt offering it cost him his kingdom (1Sam. 13:7-12). When David saw Bathsheba bathing, he had a few moments to consider his actions before lust conceived sin and brought “the sword” that “shall never depart from your house” (2Sam. 11:1-5;12:10-11). Gehazi’s decision to ask Naaman for a talent of silver and clothing led to “the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever” (2Kings 5:20-27).
Conclusion. The next time we are tempted to set aside God’s command, we need to remember David’s words of anguish. ‘And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!’ (2Sam. 18:33)
David’s agony was for more than Absalom’s death. He knew his own “dead flies” had led to this. How could anyone bear the agony of knowing that by their own choices they had destroyed one of their own, not just in time, but perhaps for all eternity? Yet such decisions become the “dead flies” destroying the wonderful perfume of an honorable life.