Ecclesiastes 10:1 Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor. So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.

Small acts can nullify a lifetime of good work. The world awaits that one small work to drag you down in mire. It is a tough road we walk when we walk it outside of the grace shown to us by God. It is sad but true though misery loves company and others celebrate when they see others failing.

That is why we are to treat people well, no matter who they are. That is a true measure of a person. When they struggle we are to try and lift them up. When we do maybe we can help them avoid the “big” act that causes their perfume to stink.

This is a gift being an encourager in times when our sinful actions catch up to us. Barnabas was that encourager to Paul after his meeting with Jesus. He brought him to the brethren and told them Jesus had transformed him. Saul, as he was known before his conversion, was a persecutor of early Christians. He had many flies in his perfume. But God sent someone to help and encourage him.

Is it not great to know that God’s grace erases the fly in the ointment actions. He will even send others to walk along side us after. He does this so that one day we can be the encourager and not the condemners of our brethren.