Folly Uncovered (Ecc 10: 1-6)

FOLLY UNCOVERED (Ecc 10: 1-6):

After writing about the value of Wisdom, the author writes about the folly and its impact even on a wise man. The author writes that the dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench and so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. The perfumer’s ointment has the best smell with its beautiful properties of aroma, which is costliest too, but when flies fall into the ointment and dies, it makes the ointment to give an unpleasant odor. Likewise, a little folly that is prevalent or allowed by a wise and honorable person makes him degraded in his value. Sometimes most good things that the man had done would be forgotten and the folly he had will be only visible in the sight of people, making the person worthless in their sight.  

Further, the author writes that a wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left. The heart of the wise man inclines in the right path which is valuable, righteous, and appreciable with higher purpose and values, for wisdom comes from the Lord. The heart of the fool inclines in the passions that are uncontrolled, untamed, and directionless, just for temporary gratification without a broader perspective of life. The author also writes that even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense and he says to everyone that he is a fool. The fool doesn’t care about how he is, in the sight of others as he is senseless. The fool acknowledges himself to others by the words and deeds that he is a fool.

The author continues to write that if the anger of the ruler rises against a person, the person should not leave his place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. Further, the author writes that there is an evil that he had seen under the sun, as it was an error proceeding from the ruler, folly is set in many high places and the rich sit in a low place. The righteous and upright ruler does not get angry in vain but if he anger’s, it would be genuine, and judgment is carefully pronounced after much consideration of facts, whereas the foolish do not care about the victim but pronounce the judgment based on his own perception without real consideration of facts, as the powers are vested in their hands. So, when a fool is angry,  it would not be wise to react in order to prove to be righteous, because the foolish ruler will not listen and gets more anger, in his folly. So it is good to be calm in front of foolish ruler for laying great offenses to rest. The author sees another error that is continued by the ruler in the face of the earth that the foolish people are set in the high places who are without capability and skills and the people really rich in wisdom and ability are set in the low places. The improper position of the people not only affects the ruler or people who appointed them but also the other surroundings and resources which makes the author conclude, it as evil. 

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    What makes the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench? How?

2.    What does a little folly do? How?

3.    What do a wise man’s heart and fool’s heart do? What does it mean?

4.    When does a fool say to everyone that he is a fool? How?

5.    Does folly exist amidst all? Explain?

6.    How can we get rid of folly if we have any?

7.    What should a person do when the anger of the ruler rises against?

8.    How calmness will lay great offenses to rest?

9.    What is the evil that the author sees under the sun? Why he says it as evil?

10.    How we should act when there is a foolish authority over us?