Solomon closes the book of Ecclesiastes with these words. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter.

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Each of us have been given only one life.

What will we do with it? Life. It's not a game. And in this journey through the book of Ecclesiastes, Scott Pauley will guide us to better understand the true meaning of life.

I don't know anybody that enjoys flies. In fact, you shoe them away, you swap them,

you put up traps to catch them. Nobody likes flies. Flies love to feed on things and leave only waste behind flies are attracted by stench and by death

nobody likes flies the only thing worse than perhaps living flies buzzing around everywhere are

dead flies found in something that is precious and priceless.

I bring your attention today to one verse, and quite a verse it is.

It is the first verse of Ecclesiastes chapter number 10,

and I want to read it to you and then make some application to our lives.

The Bible says, dead flies calls the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a

stinking savor. So doth a little folly, him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.

Remember Solomon already has had much to say about reputation, that a good name is rather to

be chosen than great riches and loving favor rather than silver and gold. He said that even a child

is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, whether it be right. I mean, it seems like he just

keeps having something to say. In Ecclesiastes chapter 7, verse 1,

a good name is better than precious ointment.

In other words, your reputation matters.

And I'll remind you if you're a Christian,

it's not just your good name, it's God's good name that is on the line.

And it gives an interesting picture, a word picture.

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