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“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary [pharmacist] to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly [something stupid or silly] him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour” (Ecclesiastes 10:1).
Today most drug preparations are in jars or tubes, already mixed up, but sometimes the pharmacist has to make up a jar of ointment himself, putting various medicines into it. Usually it is something you rub on your skin. You can imagine how dead flies in it would make a bad smell! You would not want to use that kind of ointment! The Lord says that is like those who have a good reputation, but who suddenly do something wrong. Immediately it spoils everyone’s opinion of them, and all people can think about is the stupid or sinful thing they did.
As Christians, we must be careful how we act, for we can do a hundred things right, but if we do one foolish thing, that is what people seem to remember. It does not take much to spoil the way we appear to this world, so it is important to be on guard, and to avoid doing something that dishonors the Lord.
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