one28 PodcastFacts About Folly
Ecclesiastes 10:1-7
2008.02.10
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Throughout Ecclesiastes Solomon draws a distinct line between wisdom and folly. Though the wise person and the fool have the same end (they die), the advantage still goes to wisdom. In fact at the end of chapter 9 we studied the story of a poor man whose wisdom saved a city (13-16) and how wisdom is more powerful than weapons of war (17-18). Wisdom is potent.
As we move into chapter 10 the preacher parcels out a plethora of proverbs. To help us live wisely he begins by exposing wisdom’s opposite: foolishness. And in verses 1-7 we learn Four Facts About Folly.
1. Folly Ruins a Good Reputation (v.1)
It only takes a little foolishness to spoil your reputation.
1 Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
The first verse in chapter 10 connects at least loosely with the last verse in chapter 9, one sinner destroys much good. But there are legitimate reasons for the chapter division. For example, the style changes from prose to proverb as we enter chapter 10. Not only that, the issue in 9:18 concerned one fool’s impact on a group. Now in 10:1 folly is a problem for the one person.
Like many proverbs the first line in verse 1 portrays a mundane, obvious picture before making the point in the second half. Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench. The illustration is simple. Visualize a perfumer blending a batch of his favorite fragrance when a small insect falls into the mix. Now the formula is off and the dead bug turns the pleasant scent–the point of perfume in the first place–into a stench. Nothing like spritzing a little dead bug on your neck. That’s disgusting.
So is folly. The point is that it doesn’t take much to make a man’s reputation stink. So a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. When I first read this I thought it referred to one bad apple in a bushel, similar to the point in 9:18. But the proverb seems to be directed at the same man. A man with character, someone known by wisdom and honor, can blow it all. The issue is a man’s own reputation–not a group–even as the perfumer’s ointment is connected with reputation in Ecclesiastes 7:1, a good name is better than precious ointment. In other words, a man’s reputation is an aroma; one small mistake makes his whole name smell.
There are a couple more things to say about this. First, folly is worse when you expect the wisdom. When the pattern has been one of wisdom and honor, folly is quite a surprise. It stands out. Vomit doesn’t stand out on 70’s shag carpet like it does on white ceramic tiles. So folly stands over wisdom and honor because you expect something different.
Second, folly is pungent on it’s own. Like the nature of fire is to burn, so the nature of folly is to ruin. Like water makes things wet, folly covers a man’s character. Don’t think it’s okay to be a little stupid. How much poison does it take before water is contaminated? No matter how big your wisdom container, an ounce of folly corrupts the whole thing. A little dab (of folly) will do you in.
It may take only a moment for an entire life to be shattered. One word of wrong response may wreck your reputation. One off the cuff remark could cost your career. One rash blog post might discredit your application. If you play with folly you’re reputation is bound to get singed, no matter how wise or noble you’ve lived up to this point.
There is a difference between folly and fun. You can/should enjoy the process; laugh with friends, tell a timely joke, etc. But when you live without sense, when you turn off your brain, your name is in trouble. How serious are you about avoiding folly?
2. Folly Originates from a Central Location (v.2)
Your life direction is determined by what’s in your heart.
2 A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right,
but a fool’s heart to the left.
Every decision you make sprouts from the inside of you. Your heart is like a spring or a reservoir out of which your life flows (I think we’ve heard that somewhere before which is why we’ve got to be serious about guarding our hearts).
Verse 2 is an antithetical proverb that makes the point twice, looking at the same issue from opposing viewpoints. There are two directions your heart can lean: to the right or the left. Though I think Solomon’s primary point in this proverb is to identify the source of wisdom and folly, the results are not irrelevant. Right and left in Scripture suggest different things and he obviously thinks wisdom is better. For example, the right side often symbolizes strength, prosperity, favor, and honor while the left often pictures apathy, incompetence, loss, and shame. (Sorry about that for all you left-handers.)
It is naive to claim wisdom and make foolish choices. It’s a fake claim to wisdom when you don’t listen and when you keep going to the left when everyone is directing you to the right.
And again, the heart of the matter is that what you do is regulated from a central location. Don’t blame your circumstances or external temptations. Folly sprouts internally.
3. Folly Broadcasts a Clear Signal (v.3)
You may succeed for a while, but it is difficult–if not impossible–to hide folly forever.
3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense,
and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
The fool walk(ing) on the road is probably literal, meaning a fool is out for a stroll. And though all he’s doing is walking down the road he lacks sense. The Hebrew phrase is actually, “he lacks heart” or “his heart is lacking.” This confirms that the problem starts inside and makes its way out.
By and by he says to everyone that he is a fool. His bumbling behavior and silly speech, whether implicitly or explicitly, broadcasts his folly in high definition. It comes out. You can’t cover it up, at least not for long. Everyone knows. A clown is instantly recognizable by his costume.
Isn’t it interesting that a lot of fools hate when other people think they’re a fool? They are offended when a peer or parent or teacher “judges” them. But most of the time it doesn’t take much discernment or much time to spot a fool. Most of the time they’ve already made their public declaration, even if they didn’t use the direct words.
Folly speaks volumes. If you don’t want people to think you’re a fool, don’t act like one.
4. Folly Infiltrates in High Places (v.4)
It would be nice to think folly was relegated to folk in the lower classes, but folly often slips into high places.
1) It Causes Irate Reactions
4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
It may seem like verse 4 is completely disconnected from the first three verses and a number of commentators would agree. In addition, verses 5-7 return to a less proverbial form and seem out of place. But I think verse 4 does fit the context and that the story in verses 5-7 support the point in verse 4.
So how does verse 4 fit with verses 1-3? Verse 4 gives counsel on how to deal with a foolish authority without being a fool yourself.
True, the word fool or folly is not found in verse 4. However, based on the context of the paragraph and the broader context of wisdom literature (like the book of Proverbs and even the rest of Ecclesiastes) I think there’s good reason to suspect that the authority (not necessarily the king like in chapter 8, but a ruler of some sort) in this case is acting like a fool. It is also true that the typical response to a foolish authority is foolish.
Most of the time–though not all–anger is found in fools. Many men who get angry are being foolish (I know, I’ve been one of them). For example, Solomon said,
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)
It’s possible you could have done something to provoke the ruler to anger. But if you had done something really wrong it’s unlikely that you’ll be excused for that wrong just by being calm. But if the ruler’s anger is undeserved, if his anger sprouts from his own folly, then perhaps it’s possible to soothe his anger by remaining cool and collected.
The foolish reaction is to storm off in a huff, so do not leave your place. That is equally imprudent. Don’t stomp off in a fit, that only makes the boss more irate.
2) It Causes Irrational Decisions/Appointments
That’s not the only connection between fools and authority. Verse 5-7 are a story of the error of fools set in high places.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
The word error “normally designates a mistake that comes about through negligence, forgetfulness, or by accident” (Longman, p.242). “To have a fool on your team is bad enough–but to make him team leader is a catastrophe” (Winter, p.129). Though they don’t deserve to be there, though apparently there were more qualified people to fill the role, fools get appointed to positions. On the other hand men with resources (the rich and princes) don’t always get the job, sometimes fools and slaves do. It’s not right, in fact it’s irrational.
But don’t be a fool, and don’t respond foolishly to those who are.
Conclusion
As you discuss in your small groups this morning, consider these questions:
- How serious are you about avoiding folly? Do you care about your reputation?
- Does your heart lean to the right or to the left? How do you know? What kind of signal are you broadcasting? What would others say?
- What kind of problems come when fools are in authority? How do you deal with fools (in authority)?
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