Reputation

March 16, 2018- Friday-#648-Daily Morning Bible Reading and Meditation-Ecclesiastes 10 KJV

*** Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. 

*** 

[1] Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. 

[2] A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. 

[4] If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. 

[11] Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. 

[18] By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. 

[19] A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things . 

[20] Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

Words to ponder for today:

Reputation

Meaning: overall quality; character. public esteem or regard: good name

Reputation is the outcome of a behavioral manner; an attitude visible to others and the public knowledge of one’s personality. It labels a person’s life whether 

he or she harbors respect and honor, or dislikes or aversion. 

In verse one, the Preacher metaphorically illustrated of how a little foolishness marred the good reputation of a person who are looked up to, with respect and honor; it is as a bottle of sweet perfume, that when a dead flies plunge in, it will never smell sweetly the same way as it was before. The dead fly’s stinking odor will destroy the whole bottle and no one would wanted keep it but to throw it away; the same way people disliked a prominent man because of one mistake or behavioral flaw.

Ecclesiastes 10:2 "A wise man's heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left."

“Right … left”: This proverb is based on the fact that, commonly, the right hand is more skillful than the left.

The right side of the body has always symbolized the spiritual side of mankind. The left hand speaks of his earthly nature. A wise man will let his spirit control him, and not his flesh.

Two examples: Jesus sits at the right hand of God; Sheep to the right and goats to the left.

Ecclesiastes 10:3 "Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he [is] a fool."

When the fool stays at home, no one realizes his foolishness. But when he goes out into the world, everyone he comes in contact with, knows he is a fool.

A person lacking wisdom will manifest that in daily conduct.

Ecclesiastes 10:4 "If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences."

It is but wise to keep quiet when the ruler is angry and just  listen to what he is saying even if it is hard to take. It will subside once he realize his servant’s humility and  respectful gesture.

Ecclesiastes 10:6 "Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place."

Sometimes, foolish people who do not have much experience, nor achievement, and  usually in a financial incapability are them who are lifted up through their high regards in themselves; making their way to set themselves to become dignified.while most of the rich people tried to live In simplicity, silence and  staidness. Thus, presents some strange ironies and is not, in this world, always fair.

Ecclesiastes 10:7 "I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth."

To ride on a horse in the manner spoken of here, is speaking of the person being honored. What Solomon could be saying, is there are servants who did wisely in their services, and are being honored; while there are princes whom are supposed to live with dignity and honor, but because they live foolishly and wastefully, they turn out to be their servants’ servants; or rather, they walked as servants because they lack capabilities to walk as princes. The same irony of what was said in verse 11, there are those kind of babblers, who speak sweetly,  excessively and senselessly, yet gained sympathy by the majority and ended up to become people’s malady; the same way snakes bites mercilessly. 

Them who became the victims are the slothful and idles who just depend and believe in every sweet promises of comfort and easiness, without self studying nor scrutinizing what was being taught or if the spoken promises are real or too good to be true. They just gave in, believed and convinced. Later they realized, because of their much laxity, slothfulness or idleness in working with their own hands, depending upon others, their houses fall apart if not being taken away from them while their eyes open wide in awfulness.

Everybody should learn from this verse: 

[19] A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things . 

Indeed feast are always with wine to make persons’ heart merry. But those people who feast everyday will turn out to be a beggar sooner or later. For no person who are inclined to easily living, festivities and merry makings will become  rich. For riches are only acquired with tremendous and painstakingly working. If there is no money to buy things, there will never have a costly feast with wine to celebrate. 

And if you ever happen to become poor because of your irresponsibilities in handling your own way of living, be warned: do not ever curse the kings,( rulers) even the rich. For The GOD who is The Giver Of all things hears, listen and will not hold you guiltless. For He allowed all things to happen for a purpose. Whether for each one of us to observe or to learn; that we may be cautious to live our lives which was purposefully given to each one of us. 

This verse said: [20] Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

And though GOD is The Giver, all of us are accountable for the life we have. What we are and what we may be is in our hands.

Let each one fear GOD, The Creator,in the Name of The LORD and our Savior JESUS CHRIST, so that we may build our reputation to be wise to choose which kind of life we ought to live. 

Have a blessed day Ahead!

Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 KJV

[1] Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. [2] A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. [3] Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him , and he saith to every one that he is a fool. [4] If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. [5] There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: [6] Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. [7] I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. [8] He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. [9] Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. [10] If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. [11] Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. [12] The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. [13] The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. [14] A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? [15] The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. [16] Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! [17] Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! [18] By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. [19] A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things . [20] Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.