Wisdom is the principal thing, according to Proverbs 4:7, and so we ought to get wisdom. Solomon knew this, but he struggled with the limitations of wisdom.
In Ecclesiastes 9 and 10 Solomon shares some limitations that he has observed to the benefits of wisdom. Most famously in this section is the phrase we know as “fly in the ointment”. The exact phrase in the Bible is,
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour
Ecclesiastes 10:1
To grasp the meaning we need to understand the context. The context is the limitations of wisdom.
1. (9:11) The Limitations of Wisdom – Time and Chance
2. (9:13-18) The Limitations of Wisdom – Tyrants and Cowards
3. (10:1-4) The Limitations of Wisdom – Terrible Choices
1. The Limitations of Wisdom – Time and Chance (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12)
What did Solomon observe?
The fastest may not win the race – Accidents or injury can change the outcome of a
race. Speed alone is no guarantee of 1st place.
The strongest may not conquer – Strength, numbers, and technology don’t win wars
alone. Russia, on paper, should have defeated Ukraine easily (and may yet defeat them), but Ukraine is fighting bravely and seem to be turning the tide.
The wise and those with understanding may not prosper – Wisdom and knowledge we would think would
bring material comfort. How often has someone with everything lost it all in a recession or natural disaster?
The skillful may not be favored – Someone with skills we imagine will rise to the top in a nation or organization. Yet sometimes the skillful are sidelined because they’re a threat to those above them.
Regardless of skills, abilities, or qualifications, from the human perspective time and chance can
overrule it all. Let me emphasize that point, from the human perspective.
Solomon goes on to use nature as an example.
The fish doesn’t know it’s going to get caught in a net. The bird doesn’t see the snare until it’s too
late. Did you ever notice the surprised look on roadkill?
People often don’t see something is going to bring them down until it is too late.
Remember, Solomon is moving between human observation and Divine revelation. What we perceive as time and chance apart from God, we can see as Providence with God.
The world speaks of luck, karma, and fate. The Christian looks for God’s hand at work in everything. Not in a fatalistic sense, but in the loving Providence of a good and kind Father.
We should not put our trust in skills, abilities, qualifications, or wisdom alone. Rather, use what God has given you but ultimately trust in Him
“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come
forth as gold.” – Job 23:10
2. The Limitations of Wisdom – Tyrants and Coward (Ecclesiastes 9:13-18)
Here Solomon makes another observation.
There was a great king, a little city, and a poor wise man. The small city was outnumbered and outgunned but was saved by the counsel of a poor wise man. After the victory, the poor wise man is forgotten.
Next, Solomon describes a loud, obnoxious ruler and a poor wise man with quiet wisdom.
He concludes that while wisdom is better, the wise may still be ignored. Wise words spoken softly are better than loud and forceful words.
Though wisdom is better Solomon recognized that a sinner can undo what wisdom accomplishes. The problem is not wisdom, but it is the limitation of wisdom in a fallen world. There are many wise people in Ukraine who are being hindered by tyrants and cowards today. In smaller ways, there are tyrants and cowards in churches who shout down the wisdom of others.
We should make sure we do not mistake volume and force for wisdom. Some people put on a good performance, but they have no substance. Neither should we mistake someone who is quiet for a lack of conviction. We should deliberately look for wisdom in those around us.
(10:1-3) The Limitations of Wisdom –Terrible Choices
Finally, we find our famous phrase and see that terrible choices can limit wisdom. Solomon was not hindered by time and chance or tyrants and cowards, his greatest enemy was himself. He possessed wisdom, but he neglected to use wisdom.
A Single Fly Can Ruin a Recipe – It’s not the size of the fly or the quantity of flies that causes the problem.
o A single fly ruins the ointment. How many flies would take to ruin your soup? How many would you pick out before reaching your limit? I expect for all of us one is the limit.
One foolish action can ruin a reputation. Now, no one is expected to be perfect. The foolish action here is something avoidable and easily recognizable as wrong.
Gotcha Moments – we live in the age of gotcha moments. We live in a time where one action can be seized on, exaggerated, and weaponized. It may even have been a social media post from a
decade ago that is used to destroy a person today. We need to be aware of when something is being
blown out of proportion. We need to be gracious.
But as this passage makes clear, a single foolish choice can ruin a reputation. It is a stern warning for us all to guard our hearts.
Ruined reputations come from foolish choices – The right & left hand were synonymous with good & evil. The right hand was often thought of as the side of action and trust. The wise man’s heart is led to things which are right and true. A foolish man’s heart is inclined to foolish actions.
The foolish will announce their folly – A fool lives according to his foolish choices and eventually, a fool’s lifestyle will be clear to see.
We must guard our hearts because out of it are the issues of life (Proverbs 4). Wise choices are the result of wise choices. Decisions in the moment are usually made by life choices we’ve made up until that moment. How we behave every day, what we read, watch, who we hang around with, will shape the decisions we make in moments of crises.
Conclusion:
Wisdom is not a guarantee for success.
o We are not at the mercy of time and chance.
o But God’s plans will rule and overrule us.
o This is not something to resent or fear, but to joyfully submit to.
o Wisdom never contradicts itself, but the outcomes may not be what we expect.
In a fallen world the righteous do not always prevail
o Psalm 37; Psalm 73; Psalm 94:3
o The loud and proud are frequently not the wise, yet often
those are the ones who receive all the attention.
Foolish choices will destroy a good reputation
o We can’t control time and chance – those things are in God’s hand.
o We can’t control tyrants and cowards
o We can control our choices.
▪ It’s not about perfection, but patterns.
▪ Patterns and habits you establish in life will show themselves in your planned and crisis choices.
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