10 Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left. 3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his [a]sense is lacking and he [b]demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the ruler’s [c]temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler— 6 folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places. 7 I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.
Solomon’s example in v. 10 reminds me of demonstrations I’ve seen with water over the years. It doesn’t take much to make us turn up our noses and say “no thank you!” A fly in your water, maybe pet hair (or other pet things), how about someone spitting in it? Gross! But what if it’s just a little bit, surely all the water isn’t bad?
No, that’s not how it works with water, or perfume, and it is the same in life. A little foolishness is so “weighty” it can ruin just about anything. Solomon gives us another example, of fools on thrones, and wise men in lowly positions. Yet, maybe it isn’t the evil he seems to think. For those who desire exaltation should rarely get it. It is best for those who are wise to be exalted by someone else than by themselves.
Self-promotion is rarely (if ever) appealing, and I think we would all do well to accept low positions and walk a bit less like princes and princesses. Yesterday, I mentioned the idea of folks giving glory to God for your good deeds. That doesn’t mean it is evil if they give you praise instead, but how do you respond? Are you gracious, or does it go to your head?
Jesus himself had every right to be proud, he was God after all (Philippians 2). Yet he “did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” As we follow Jesus, we should learn from his example, think less of ourselves, and remember we are here to serve others, for His glory.