Year One, November 4

Put Devious Talk Far From You1

Ecclesiastes 10:1-14

1 Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench;

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

No matter how beautiful the jar or how excellent the fragrance, dead flies will destroy the precious lotion. And even so, what seem like unimportant faults will spoil a fine character. Being rude, having a short temper, making jokes about serious matters, unwillingness to give or spend money, self-centeredness, and a thousand other harmful flies have often turned the wonderful perfume of a Christian’s life into a destructive odor to those who were around them. Let us pray for grace to avoid the smaller errors, so that they will not do serious harm to us and the gospel. When something is really good it is a shame to spoil it by not correcting our small faults. Little things can ruin our influence for good. Watch out for little flies!

2 A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right,

but a fool’s heart to the left.

The wise person is sensible and applies themselves to accomplishing their goals. The foolish person may have good intentions, but does not make the effort to achieve them.

3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,

and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place,

for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.

5There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: 6folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

Kings are not always wise in choosing whom they honor. Sometimes the best people experience the pain of seeing less qualified people promoted over them. Sometimes God gives the least worthy people positions of power and influence, while people of character and grace are left to suffer in the cold shade of poverty. The Lord is behind this. He has wise reasons for bringing it about. Therefore we should cheerfully submit to his will. Let us not envy or flatter the great or be dissatisfied with our own situation. Wrongs will be righted in good time. God’s people can afford to wait. Meanwhile it is better to be in the lowest condition and enjoy the love of God, than to sit among princes and live without our Father’s presence.

8 He who digs a pit will fall into it,

and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.

Never set traps for others or disobey beneficial laws because they are unpleasant. Evil will come of it.

9 He who quarries stones is hurt by them,

and he who splits logs is endangered by them.

There is some risk in any kind of job. This is a good reason to ask the Lord to keep us safe every day, however free from danger our work may seem to be.

10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,

he must use more strength,

but wisdom helps one to succeed.

Knowledge is power. A little common sense will save a lot of effort. It is good to have our wits about us. Christian people should never be stupid. Let us sharpen our axes.

11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed,

there is no advantage to the charmer.

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor,

but the lips of a fool consume him.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,

and the end of his talk is evil madness.

14 A fool multiplies words,

though no man knows what is to be,

and who can tell him what will be after him?

Quiet rivers run deep, but the babbling brook is shallow. Great talkers are usually little doers. People of many words are rarely people of great deeds. No one person really knows all that much. If we talk a lot, we will most likely get into subjects that we do not understand and so reveal our foolishness. An ignorant person, if they are quiet, may pass for wise; but a talkative person advertises their own lack of common sense. A quiet tongue shows a wise head. We seldom get into trouble by silence, but noisy tongues often bring grief to their owners. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”2 We should aim to edify with our words. However, this is often forgotten and people talk as if their tongues were their own. They forget Jesus said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.”3

Oh Lord, keep our lips, so that we will not sin against you.

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¹ Proverbs 4:24

² Colossians 4:6

³ Matthew 12:36