"Dead flies pours forth foul oil in the perfume of wisdom, so does honorable reputation a little folly."1
A wise man that acts foolishly, surely, he damages his reputation but in context we see that the difference between a wise and a foolish man is a wise man's heart directs him toward the right but the heart of a fool directs to the left. "Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool."2 So the perfume is like the reputation of a wise man and the fly makes stinky the reputation of the wise.
Say you become a seller on Amazon, now the majority of people are honest and will not cheat you but what about the ones who do? those who buy things, use them once only to return it or they break it and say it arrived that way. What do you do? well I can't let people run over me, I will be seen as weak, and they should be held accountable, right?
"Never yourselves avenging beloved but give place to wrath, indeed it has been written, vengeance is mine says the Lord."4
This word for avenging, ekdikeó, to dispense justice, carrying a judgment completely through; to vindicate one's right. Certainly, if I catch someone stealing from me I have the right to avenge myself? What if you hired someone to fix your bathroom that another guy left in shambles and this guy paints your home instead? What if you adopted a child through an organization that charged you $35,000 and find out later others paid $20,000? And what if they claim to be a believer? surely there is no lack of con-artists who call themselves clergymen, but what do you do about it?
I was flipping the channel the other day and a judge show caught my eye, it did so because a church was suing a member, asking for benevolence funds back. Even a secular judge could not understand why a church would not want to help a tithing member and why they would take this woman to court. Even if the woman did them wrong, as Paul writes, why not be wronged than go before a secular judge?
"The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have thoroughly defeated yourselves already? Why not rather be wronged, why not rather be cheated?"6
The Bible says to not take vengeance, so as to leave room for God's wrath. It is the same principle for giving, if done for people to see I have my earthly reward, God will not reward me. If I take revenge it leaves no room for God to take vengeance. We see the issue of injustice here, as Malachi prophesied God's leaders live to double standards and they are emboldened to continue in sin because God doesn't immediately take vengeance, thus the people say, what does it pay to serve God?
And there is another reason to let God take vengeance. I see flies in the ointment of many ministries regarding benevolence, and how they treat others. It has come up over and over again, a woman here, a man there, all giving credence of being faithful members and getting no help in their time of need. When you get enough flies in the ointment, it matters not whether they are good or bad flies, the perfume begins to stink. Some of these organizations are stinking. They are like the Pharisees who break God's commandments by their rules and traditions.
"Moreover, if anyone their own and especially the household doesn't provide for, the faith he has denied and is worse than an unbeliever."4
Amazon has a reputation system where customers can rate businesses. Dishonest people know how to manipulate the system and if you try to hold them accountable, well, they become flies in the ointment, hurting your good reputation. But often you do not have proof that would hold up in court, and you could be wrong condemning someone who did no wrong. Maybe it did get broken during shipping and handling, maybe your employee didn't certify it correctly...
God will take vengeance for me, so we see allowing ourselves to be wronged, such is wisdom, not weakness. It doesn't mean I do not stand firm in truth, brother, I do not appreciate what you did to me. no, we all need accountability in brotherly love. It means it is more important for the wise to be of good reputation than to destroy such in the name of prudence. Sometimes if we are not careful we can break God's greater commandments and hurt our reputation in the name of prudence. My good reputation is more important than what others may or may not do to me. The Bible promises we will reap what we sow. Flies in the ointment make stinky your good reputation.
A wise man that acts foolishly, surely, he damages his reputation but in context we see that the difference between a wise and a foolish man is a wise man's heart directs him toward the right but the heart of a fool directs to the left. "Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool."2 So the perfume is like the reputation of a wise man and the fly makes stinky the reputation of the wise.
Say you become a seller on Amazon, now the majority of people are honest and will not cheat you but what about the ones who do? those who buy things, use them once only to return it or they break it and say it arrived that way. What do you do? well I can't let people run over me, I will be seen as weak, and they should be held accountable, right?
"Never yourselves avenging beloved but give place to wrath, indeed it has been written, vengeance is mine says the Lord."4
This word for avenging, ekdikeó, to dispense justice, carrying a judgment completely through; to vindicate one's right. Certainly, if I catch someone stealing from me I have the right to avenge myself? What if you hired someone to fix your bathroom that another guy left in shambles and this guy paints your home instead? What if you adopted a child through an organization that charged you $35,000 and find out later others paid $20,000? And what if they claim to be a believer? surely there is no lack of con-artists who call themselves clergymen, but what do you do about it?
I was flipping the channel the other day and a judge show caught my eye, it did so because a church was suing a member, asking for benevolence funds back. Even a secular judge could not understand why a church would not want to help a tithing member and why they would take this woman to court. Even if the woman did them wrong, as Paul writes, why not be wronged than go before a secular judge?
"The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have thoroughly defeated yourselves already? Why not rather be wronged, why not rather be cheated?"6
The Bible says to not take vengeance, so as to leave room for God's wrath. It is the same principle for giving, if done for people to see I have my earthly reward, God will not reward me. If I take revenge it leaves no room for God to take vengeance. We see the issue of injustice here, as Malachi prophesied God's leaders live to double standards and they are emboldened to continue in sin because God doesn't immediately take vengeance, thus the people say, what does it pay to serve God?
And there is another reason to let God take vengeance. I see flies in the ointment of many ministries regarding benevolence, and how they treat others. It has come up over and over again, a woman here, a man there, all giving credence of being faithful members and getting no help in their time of need. When you get enough flies in the ointment, it matters not whether they are good or bad flies, the perfume begins to stink. Some of these organizations are stinking. They are like the Pharisees who break God's commandments by their rules and traditions.
"Moreover, if anyone their own and especially the household doesn't provide for, the faith he has denied and is worse than an unbeliever."4
Amazon has a reputation system where customers can rate businesses. Dishonest people know how to manipulate the system and if you try to hold them accountable, well, they become flies in the ointment, hurting your good reputation. But often you do not have proof that would hold up in court, and you could be wrong condemning someone who did no wrong. Maybe it did get broken during shipping and handling, maybe your employee didn't certify it correctly...
God will take vengeance for me, so we see allowing ourselves to be wronged, such is wisdom, not weakness. It doesn't mean I do not stand firm in truth, brother, I do not appreciate what you did to me. no, we all need accountability in brotherly love. It means it is more important for the wise to be of good reputation than to destroy such in the name of prudence. Sometimes if we are not careful we can break God's greater commandments and hurt our reputation in the name of prudence. My good reputation is more important than what others may or may not do to me. The Bible promises we will reap what we sow. Flies in the ointment make stinky your good reputation.