Ecclesiastes 10:1 As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honour.
Fragrant aromatic oils, perfumes and ointments during Bible times, (such as onycha, galbanum, styrax, nard, frankincense and myrrh), extracted from natural plant products were rare, relatively expensive and exquisite luxuries products. There were no chemicals or synthetic components present in these perfumes or incense. Dead flies in these perfume bottles would be a loss and disaster as they were very costly and classy. Spiritually, the fragrance of a child of God is the knowledge about their Saviour. 2 Corinthians 2:14b Through us reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place. Perfume is first smelt before it is felt. Similarly, the aroma of Christ in us must be a sweet smelling fragrance that is smelt in our behaviour, conduct and composure before it can be heard. Preaching without character will only be like a stench of dead flies from a perfume bottle.
Anything that mars, ruins or corrupts the knowledge of Christ are dead flies. Any proud, pretentious and pilfered thoughts against the omnipotence, significance or supremacy of Christ are dead flies that will spoil the aroma of Christ. Dead flies are removed by demonising the wrong thought patterns and strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5b).
Dead flies that cause the sweet smell to stink:
1. Pride: The simple definition of pride is to think excessively about oneself. The only group of people to whom God is an enemy are the prideful. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Pride is not self confidence but overconfidence. Pride, overvalues gifts (knowledge, experience, money or power) and undervalues the Giver of the gifts. Pride contours the so-called “self made men/women”. Proud will say, “I can do all things” but the humble and meek will say, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus”. Pride is a dead fly that will bring stench to the aroma of the knowledge of Christ in our lives.
2. Pretence: Pretence is a mask on reality. We don’t have to camouflage our weakness, pitfalls and faults before God. His love for us never changes. He loves us just as we are. Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me (Jeremiah 9:24). Many testimonies propagate the praying pattern, fasting routine or theological knowledge and not the steadfast love, justice, and righteousness of God. Pretentious propaganda about oneself under the veil of preaching, prophecy or testimony is only the stench of dead flies.
3. Pinion: Our own words limit the power of God in our lives. After a faith filled prayer for deliverance, transformation or healing, if we complain, groan or grouch about our problem, partner or profession, we will pinion the power of God over our lives and the situation. Our prayer, preaching and pronouncements must be congruent. Don’t let your opinion, pinion God. Pessimism is dead flies in the bottle of perfume.
The aroma of Christ is our knowledge and His sweet fragrance that can be smelt on us before we are heard, seen or felt.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, teach me to filter the flies that could corrupt my thoughts, theologies or trust and bring a stench instead of a sweet smelling aroma of You. Amen
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