You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street!

~Ecclesiastes 10:3 NLT

As a young and prideful Christian, Kris Langham of Through the Word started reading through the Book of Proverbs. It was so apparent to him how foolish people were. He said it was almost laughable how people acted sometimes. But it was not long before he started to see that God was not just giving him a picture of fools but a mirror image of one. Himself. There was a fly in the ointment.

The Fly

Solomon tells us that, like a dead fly in a perfume bottle, a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor. Some Christians, after conversion, think they know everything, but then reality sets in, and we realize that, at times, we all act foolishly.

The Closed Mind and Open Mouth

Solomon also says, “Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions” (Proverbs 18:2 NLT). The fool loves to show off knowledge. Matthew Henry said, “He loves the sound of his own voice.” Dr. David Jeremiah said the fool “closes his mind while opening the mouth.”

Humility is the pivotal piece. Humility understands that wisdom is never gained to promote our agenda. Self-effort never makes us humble. If we should gain a measure of humility and wisdom due to our merit, we would ultimately end up being proud of our humility.

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

~Psalm 14:1 NASB

We can seek wisdom and miss God, but we can never miss wisdom if we seek God first.

The Stench

Fools are always blind to their flaws because deception is a by-product of conceit.

If we think we are humble, we probably are not. If pride is operative in our lives, we will end up with a dead fly in our ointment. And people recognize this smell even when walking down the street.

Take steps to get the fly of pride out of your ointment.

Father, help me see any flies of pride in my ointment. Then, take them away. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2025: A Fly in the Ointment: Ken Barnes: All Rights Reserved