Is There a Fly in Your "Ointment of Joy"?

            Have you had your Joy Juice today?  The Oil of Joy has a sweet aroma!

            Recently, I heard someone use the old adage “a fly in the ointment” and I began to wonder where that originated.  Ecclesiastes 10:1 (English Standard Version) says:

“Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench;”
    

            That’s not exactly the same verbiage as a “fly in the ointment” but it’s pretty close.  It means:

“A small but irritating flaw that spoils the whole.” 

According to one online article, these days, ointments are chiefly used for medical purposes…things like rashes or skin irritations. In earlier times, ointments were more likely to be creams or oils with a cosmetic or ceremonial use. Literally, ointment was the substance with which one was anointed. 

Let’s think about it this way…God wants to anoint us with His Oil of Joy. Our enemy sends “flies” into our lives daily…irritants such as discouraging words, negative comments, doubts, circumstances that agitate us.  The “Oil of Joy” from the Lord is always fresh, but if we don’t guard our “joy jar” carefully, we may find “a fly in the ointment” which may spoil that personal serving.  

Ask God to help you guard your heart and your thoughts as you slather on the Oil of Joy, and let it permeate your world with His sweet aroma.