“Dead flies cause 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” (Ecclesiastes 10:1).

It is often and sadly true that a seemingly minor sin by an otherwise honorable and godly Christian leader can lead to serious consequences, even the loss of his influence or position. A Biblical example would be the case of Noah, relaxing with wine to the point of drunkenness after his great work of preserving life during the awful flood (Genesis 9:20–27). This act gave occasion to his youngest son Ham to sin, with all the sad consequences that followed.

Or consider the case of Moses, allowing his anger at the rebellious Israelites to lead him to disobey God in smiting the rock (Numbers 20:7–12), thereby forfeiting his right to lead his people into the promised land. Then there was the case of godly young Joseph, whose pride led his older brothers to commit the terrible sin of selling him into slavery in Egypt (Genesis 37:8,28).

We need to “take [that is, ‘capture and ban’] the little foxes that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes” (Song of Solomon 2:15). That is, the little sins that seem so trivial at the time may, through the wiles of the devil, be distorted and magnified so as to destroy the fruit that our lives should be bearing for the Lord.

Just like little flies in the ointment prepared by the perfumer, or little foxes nibbling at the grapevine, so such apparently insignificant but hurtful words and deeds can undermine our witness for Christ. Therefore, we must learn prayerfully and constantly to “be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8).

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:12). HMM