Be Sensible

The writer is now about to turn this thing toward home plate. He will now answer some of the questions he has left hanging. However, before he does this, he takes the 10th chapter and provides us with a series of proverbial statements, much like what we find in the book of Proverbs.

We could basically summarize all of chapter 10 in one statement: BE SENSIBLE.

Sensible:

good judgment; reasonable /ˈsen·sə·bəl/ having or using good judgment; reasonable: She was sensible and easy to deal with.

What does it mean for someone to have good sense?

This chapter examines life and what it means to keep our standards high. It asks when we lower our standards and neglect the idea of living a sensible life.

Ecclesiastes 10:1–3 ESV

1 Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man’s heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left. 3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

Like the most highly concentrated chemical polluting a water supply, a little foolishness contaminates and permeates every part of life. Such foolishness often parades itself across the lives of those who would claim to be the wisest and most powerful.

The Reason Self-Checkout Kiosks Have Mirrors

Amid the increasing number of self-service check-out stations cropping up at grocery stores and other vendors, companies have devised a unique measure to deter potential shoplifters—mirrors. Initially people assumed it was used to ensure shoppers “look good” before checking out, these reflective devices are actually there to make prospective pilferers feel guilty. This might sound ineffective on its face as robbers would presumably just steal with no one monitoring their actions.

However, mirrors are psychologically proven to make people feel guilty. According to a study in the journal “Letters on Behavioral Evolutionary Science,” people who are in a “self-aware” situation such as in front of a mirror are less likely to engage in “antinormative behavior” like stealing or cheating than those who are not.

The study noted that when participants were subjected to mirrors, their “private self-awareness was activated” and influenced “decision-making” despite the lack of social cues. “These results suggest that socially desirable behavior is influenced by mirrors.”

However, the study authors admit that the mechanism behind self-awareness’ effect on behavior is not well understood—perhaps the mirror makes people “reflect” on the crime before even committing it. Psychology Today postulated that mirrors “allowed people literally to watch over themselves” and therefore “made them more likely to behave in a more upright way.”

However, unlike the man in James 1:19-25 who see’s his reflection in a mirror and then walks away and forgets what He looks like. When we incorporate just a little bit of foolishness into our lives we begin to forget what it looks like to do the right thing.

So, a little folly outweighs wisdom, honor, and dead flies, for even the sweetest-smelling perfumer's ointment now stinks.

A person can look into a mirror, soon forget what they have seen, and go ahead with their sinful plans. However, when we look into the perfect law of God, we see a true and undistorted image of ourselves. God designed this so that our actions will align with his will, and we will do what pleases him. (Jam. 1:19-25, Heb. 4:12-13)

Hebrews 4:12–13 ESV

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The Bible has quite a bit to say about foolishness.

Psalm 14:1 says that a “fool says in his heart there is not God.”

The gospel of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to the ones who are being saved by it, it is the power of God. (1 Cor. 1:18).

God considered the rich man who had made no provision for eternity to be a fool.

The main term used speaks of absurdity, stupidity and inconsistency.

What happens when we see ....

Foolishness on the Road of Life

Are you on the Right Road?

The direction of the heart inevitably manifests itself in a person’s lifestyle, and in v. 3 the preacher points out that the folly of the fool is indeed manifest in his lifestyle.

vs. 3 “Even when the fool walks on the road he lacks sense.”

It doesn’t take much foolishness to outweigh wisdom and honor.

The Direction of the Heart Test

*Are you on the road of Vigilance and Self-Control?

A lack of Vigilance and self-control gets more people in trouble today. Someone says something biting to us, or it doesn’t sit right with our sense of sensibility. So, what do we do? Most of us will not directly confront the person but live in this passive-aggressive mode all of the time.

Teenagers in the Room

In a foolish impulse or lapse of judgement, something beautiful, namely your virginity may be irreparably destroyed.

In that moment those big eyes leering at you saying, “well everyone is doing it.” It is in that moment of your life you have one lapse in judgment, that one foolish encounter and you remove from yourself that one thing that is unique and precious.

The Dead Flies in the Ointment

The point here is that small as flies may be they can ruin the precious fragrance of sweet smelling ointment. How does this process happen, well something that is designated to smell beautiful become fermented with the decaying body of the flies causing it to stink. Basically it takes just one rotten apple to ruin the whole barrel.

So, a little folly or foolishness in a persons life seems to outweigh honor and wisdom, or a sense of sensibility.

Paul’s illustration in Galatians 5:9 tells us that a little leaven infects the whole lump. Leaven is any substance (like yeast) that produces fermentation in the dough. It is the main ingredient that causes bread to rise in preparation for baking. The “whole lump,” refers to the entire batch of dough (referring to the whole congregation of believers).

Paul compares the Christian life to a ‘race’. The Galatians were excited and excelling in running the race until the false teachers cut into their spiritual marathon. They set up obstacles such as legalism, confusing the believers and hindering their spiritual development. Here the “leaven” represents sin, and precisely the sin of pride.

Wisdom can quickly leave the room when we are not vigilant and self-controlled in how we live and order our lives.

The proverb cautions it’s readers to exercise vigilance and self-control. They must not behave in ways that invite retaliation or expose their passive-aggressive tendencies. For example, just a moment of foolishness or lack of sensibility can lead to retaliation prompted by youthful pride.

vs. 2 The folly that he is talking about here is not that of the mental deficiency but of moral perversity.

The fool Lowers Himself to the less valuable.

*Are You on the Road to Doing the Right Thing?

The wise man’s heart is at the right hand of God. The right and left hands have always been viewed as lucky and unlucky, good and bad. Our use of the Latin word “Sinister,” means ‘left-hand.’

We have the picture of Jesus Christ's return, with him placing the sheep and goats on two sides corresponding to the two verdicts, the sheep destined for eternal riches on his right and the goats destined for eternal punishment on his left. We have the picture of those to receive his blessings on the right hand and the left, in greater or lesser degrees.

The Greater to the Lesser Principle

The picture we see here is the moment when a person makes a judgment call in two ways; not only morally but spiritually. The choice is then relegated to the less valuable, the less good, and then to the outright positively wrong action.

This is what happens when we consider how a person who has been given such a great inheritance in the kingdom of God with its unfathomable riches, however we choose to compromise and take the lesser approach to trading in the Greater for the Lesser.

This would be like I am given a Ford Mustang GT Shelby/Cobra and I’m like, nahhh that’s OK I think I will drive this Yugo instead. What are you kidding me, why would I pass up on all the power of the Mustang.

The problem is that their heart is antithetical, meaning it is directly apposed or contrasted; mutually incompatible with the Christian heart. The heart being the wise expression for the core of a person.

Ethical Connotations to the Right and Left

The right and left are also demonstrated by signifying on the “right” what is good and “left” what is bad. We see this played out in Genesis 48:12-20 When Joseph's father Jacob was nearing his death, he brought Ephraim and Manasseh to his father, placing Ephraim in his right hand and Manasseh in his left. This signifies that the firstborn Ephraim should receive the greater blessing. However, Jacob crossed his hands to place his right on Manasseh instead of Ephraim, signifying that he should receive the greater blessing.

In Johan 4:11, the citizens of Nineveh are said to be incapable of distinguishing their left hand from their right; that is, they were unable to discern right from wrong..

What does the ground look like on the road you are traveling on?

vs. 3 reminds us that the direction of our heart will inevitably manifest itself in a person's lifestyle. Look at Psalm 1:1

Psalm 1:1 ESV

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

There is a deficiency in the human heart, we all have this same heart condition.

If left to ourselves, we will always choose foolishness. Verse 3 should be somewhat humorous. When a fool walks on the road of this life, he lacks any good sense. However, he is saying to everyone by the way he lives his life; he is, in essence, saying, ‘Hey, I’m over here,’ look at this crazy fool.

We must continually consider the ground we are walking on with God. Another way that the fool manifests just how great a fool he is happens when he or she points out everyone except themselves as foolish.

Ecclesiastes 10:4–7 ESV

4 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. 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.

What happens when we see ...

1. Foolishness on the Road of Authority

When Scripture speaks of submission it always talks in the framework of “As to The Lord.”

What is Submission According to God

This does not mean that we are a doorpost for the world to walk on an abuse. Submission to human authorities is a kind of humility that cures worldliness.

If the anger of your boss or authority figure rises against you do not run away, because remaining calm, cool, and collected will calm down even the greatest of offenses. Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:13-14 an imperative urging our subjection to governing authorities, both the Roman emperor, and even lower-level governors.

The writer is alluding to the great inequality of those in important leadership positions. Ephesians 5:21 reminds wives and husbands that their mutual submission for one another is always in reverence for Christ. Show me a Christian who is truly humble and lowly in spirit towards those in authority over them and I will show you someone who truly understands what it means to submit to Christ as Lord of their life.

Show me someone who is continually at odds with their boss or have constant problems with authority and I will show you someone who truly does not understand what it means to submit to Christ as Lord of their life. They have set themselves as the boss, on the throne of their own lives.

The best picture of humility Philippians 2:8 Paul writes how Jesus humbled himself to the point of death on a cruel cross for you and for me. Who am I to lack the self-control to honor those in authority over me while honoring Christ and His sacrifice for me.

Can you relate to authority? Because every one of us serves under some authority in our lives somehow. Look at 1 Peter 2:11-25 Peter reminds us to care greatly about how we relate to those in authority over us. “Keep your conduct among Gentiles honorable … Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution … Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust … Be mindful of God.

People under God's authority tend to thrive under earthly authority, so as Christians, we submit to our government, our employer, and church leadership.

vs 5-7 When you see foolish behavior from those in High positions of authority.

Note: No authority is given that does not come from God. What is the right or righteous way when it comes to those who have Authority over you?

What does it Look like for you to do the Right [Righteous] thing when it comes to Authority?

Remember that you are sojourners, exiles, and strangers in this world.

All Existing Authority is Set up by God

Romans 13:1-7.

One of the crucial issues we have in the church as Americans today is: Should we be American with a pinch of religious flavoring? Or: Should we be Christ’s people with a pinch of American flavoring?

I bring this questions up because I fear many Christians in America have never seriously asked themselves: Am I more American than I am a Christian? Are there not many impulses in the American society today which influence us daily but are incompatible with the Christ-life and the cross-life? Are we not constantly being shaped to fit more into the mold of the world and its values? If we are ever going to appear in this world as aliens and exiles then we are going to have to get back to the declaration of Jesus Christ is Lord!

The Righteous Way: our allegiance is First and Foremost to Christ alone as our Lord and king.

And whatever other submissions come to man we render to do it under the Lordship of Christ and His glory.

Ecclesiastes 10:8–11 ESV

8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. 9 He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. 10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. 11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.

First we have foolishness on the Road of Authority, now we have .....

What are you going to do when ...

2. Foolishness on the Road of Work

First, we have a picture of poetic justice in the man who digs a pit and then falls into it … He who breaks through a wall, a snake may bite him; the one who quarries stones leading to their harm … they may endanger him who splits logs… all of these are intended to poke fun at the current political situation and the threat of injury.

verse 10 brings us to the blinding observation of the obvious. Has anyone ever tried to cut a log or a tree with a dull axe? You can beat it like crazy and all that you are going to do is smash it, and crash it, and bump it. But if you would take the time to sharpen the axe first - if you would bring skill rather than strength to bear upon it, if you would bring inspiration rather than perspiration - then your work will be met with far greater success.

The Fool in Regards to His work

The fools says, “ I do not want to take the time to sharpen the axe. I do not want to take time to make preparations. Let me just … give the thing the old college try, and let me get at it! And so you flail away at the thing and make a mess out of it. However, if we had taken the time to prepare the axe first we could have already had all of the wood chopped and be ready to move on to some other task.

But instead we have wood all over the place, sweat running down our back and we are no closer to finishing the task then when we started.

“Worker smarter not harder dummy.”

Now verse 11 goes back to the comedic part of the text of a snake bites before it is charmed, there is not profit for the charmer. So, now we have the picture of fool deciding to go out into a bazaar and he is going do something bazaar, he is going to try and charm the snake, the snake gets so tired of waiting in the basket that it pops its head out and bites someone watching before the charmer has a chance to charm the snake.

Look at verse 15 “The work of a fool in regard to his work simply wares him out. In the end the picture that the writer is trying to get across is that the fool must learn to be mindful of all the dangers awaiting him if he does not take care - only wisdom will bring success to any work he would put his hands to int eh future.

His actions may prove to be his undoing. He may be destroyed by the products of his own labor.

The Righteous Way: We Must Prepare our Axes Before Entering His Service.

(Its Practice vv. 8–10)

Haman was hanged on the gallows that he had built for Mordecai (Esth. 7), and Frankenstein’s monster destroyed its creator. The fool will rush headlong into a task before making adequate preparation—burning himself out in the process (v. 10).

How many of us have plunged wholeheartedly into Christ’s service, exhausting ourselves in His service, without first sharpening our axes in his presence (Isa. 40:29–31)?

We have had Foolishness on the Rod of Authority; Foolishness on the Road of Work, and not we will look at ......

3. Foolishness on the Road of Words

Ecclesiastes 10:12–14 ESV

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. 14 A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?

Remember how King Solomon spoke about the use of our words in Proverbs 18:21

Proverbs 18:21 ESV

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Consumed by our Lips

This is quiet a picture isn’t it, someone being consumed by their own lips, an unimaginable feat to be sure. The words of a wise man bring him favor is only half the truth, though it makes a good contrast to the second line. What is really being said here is that his words are ‘grace’ (gracious). It all comes back to humility which is at the beginning of wisdom.

Remember what Ephesians 4:29 says: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Or Proverbs 10:19 “Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.”

YOUR WORDS REVEAL YOUR HEART

The ability to speak and use words is crucial to human existence. We need the spoken word from other people, and we especially need to hear that we are loved and appreciated.

Imagine how you would feel if, in the course of one single day, you talked to a number of people, but no one responded to you. No one said a single word back to you. Now imagine that on the same day, you wrote several e-mails and a couple of things on Facebook, sent some text messages, and did not get a single response. I am sure that you would be wondering what is going on in the world.

Do you view the ability to speak words and write words as a gift from God? In Matthew 12 Jesus teaches the connection between our words and our hearts.

Matthew 12:33–35 ESV

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

Jesus reminds us that the words we speak are a true reflection of our hearts. If we continually put people down or make them feel less important or significant, this is a true reflection of our heart. James 3:8 tells us that “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a Restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Trying harder is not the answer. We need a new heart, which comes only through a daily abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus was telling them that their greater problem is not their tongue but their heart. The good man brings good things, and the evil man brings evil. However, the heart that is transformed by God will be evident in the things he says and the way he says them. Look what happens to the words once they are spoken.

Ecclesiastes 10:20 ESV

20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.

Once the words are spoken it is beyond the fools ability to bring them back again, they have flown away. So, don’t go up in your bedroom and have that little private meeting with yourself, because a little bird may carry your words away for you when you think no one is listening.

The Righteous Way: Words that Reflect the Transformation of our Heart.

Isn’t it amazing that when you say good things you seem to not be able to get them to where you want them to go, but, when you say bad things how quickly they are received and heard.

Look at what Jesus say’s in verse 36 of Matthew chapter 12, “I tell you on the day of judgment people will give an account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

You don’t think your words matter, you better wake up and sober up church.

One of the most rewarding things as your pastor is that I get to sit back and see the transformation in your life. The one that should always be evident and is one of my favorite things that I get to witness here at the Journey. People may miss a lot of things in the world, but one thing that will make them sit up and take notice is that something different in your life is in the way you talk about it and to others.

CONCLUSION

We have talked about:

1. Foolishness on the Road of Authority: The Righteous Way: our allegiance is First and Foremost to Christ alone as our Lord and king.

2. Foolishness on the Road of Works: The Righteous Way: We Must Prepare our Axes Before Entering His Service.

3. Foolishness on the Road of Words: The Righteous Way: Our words will Reflect the Transformation of our Heart.

Closing Big Idea and Application

Are you there?

Did you begin the day with folly (foolishness)? Will you end the day with wicked madness? Did you begin the day of your life with folly? Yes, you did! For all of us, “like sheep have gone astray.” We are not in a morally neutral position whereby we may choose folly or embrace wisdom.

We have already chosen foolishness. The very fact that we disregard God and do what we want to do anyway. And so He comes to you and say’s “Here.”

We cry out from our hearts, “Lord Jesus Christ, I am so foolish. Give me your wisdom to see and follow your truth. Lord Jesus Christ, I have been so foolish. I don’t listen to my parents, my teachers, or anybody. I am so foolish. Lord Jesus, give me your grace so I can follow your truth.

The promise of the Bible is that the person who sincerely cries out to God from the deepest part of their heart absolutely promises to grant that to you.

Are You Going to Be Sensible or continue to play the fool game? You can’t do it alone because the flies are all around you, contaminating the sweet fragrance of what God wants to do in your life.

How Are You Putting Christ First...

How Are you preparing for His Service...

How Are you experiencing a transformed heart...