Small Choices Can Ruin Everything | Ecclesiastes 10:1

Shout out to Earl Estep. This weekend, I will be at the Men of Honor Conference in Sacramento, CA. I am excited to be with you and your men.

Welcome to The Daily, where we go through the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day.

Today, we’re looking at Ecclesiastes 10:1:

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. — Ecclesiastes 10:1

The Little Things Matter
Imagine a master perfumer crafting a bottle of the finest fragrance. Every ingredient is carefully measured, blended with skill, and designed to create something valuable. But then—just one small fly falls in. It decays, contaminates the entire mixture, and what was once desirable now stinks.

That’s the picture Solomon gives us. A little foolishness can destroy a lifetime of wisdom and honor. It doesn’t take much—a careless word, a moment of compromise, a lapse in judgment—and suddenly, the fragrance of a godly reputation is tainted.

A Little Folly, A Big Cost
History is full of men who built something great but lost it all over one foolish decision. King David—a man after God’s own heart—allowed a moment of lust with Bathsheba to bring chaos into his household. Judas Iscariot walked with Jesus, saw His miracles, and heard His wisdom—yet for a few silver coins, he threw it all away.

Folly doesn’t need to be grand; even a little can cause great damage.

Guarding Against the Stench
So, how do we keep dead flies out of the ointment of our lives?

☑️ Watch the Small Compromises – What seems insignificant today can become destructive tomorrow.

☑️ Surround Yourself with Wise People – The right people will call you out before a small mistake becomes a disaster.

☑️ Stay Humble and Dependent on God – The moment we think we’re immune to folly is when we become vulnerable to it.

So here's the question you need to ask yourself today: What “small flies” in your life could contaminate your testimony?

Let's pray: Lord, help me to walk in wisdom and avoid even the slightest compromises. Keep me from folly, and let my life be a fragrance that honors You. Amen.

#WisdomMatters, #GuardYourHeart, #FaithfulLiving

ASK THIS:
What small compromises in your life could lead to bigger problems if left unchecked?
Who in your circle holds you accountable to wise living?
How can you be more intentional about guarding your testimony?
What practical step can you take today to remove “dead flies” from your life?
DO THIS:
Examine your daily habits and identify one small compromise that could lead to bigger consequences—then make a change today.

PRAY THIS:
Lord, help me to walk in wisdom and guard my heart against even the smallest compromises. Let my life be a fragrance that brings You glory. Amen.

PLAY THIS:
Yes I Will.