Imagine a football stadium full of excited fans. The home team is losing by six points. It’s 4th down and they have the ball with less than a minute left on the game clock. The offensive line provides great protection as the quarterback drops back and throws the ball to his receiver in the end zone. It’s good! Touchdown! Wait, there is a flag on the field. An offensive lineman was called for holding. The touchdown doesn’t count. All it took was one mistake and a would-be victory is out of reach.

In Ecclesiastes 9:18, we are reminded that “one” sinner can destroy much that is good. To sin is to miss the mark, to mess up. We are all guilty of making bad decisions and have the potential to destroy much good. And it just takes one. One sinful act can really make a mess of something good. One spouse wanders away and suddenly an entire family is a mess. One driver wanders out of his lane and destroys the life of an innocent passenger.

The writer of Ecclesiastes says that having wisdom (the ability to make great choices) is better than a weapon (something that ultimately makes you feel powerful). It is through wisdom — which comes from God — that we find great power to turn from sin.