![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/HoneyPot-227x300.gif\")
At a reception in Washington, a widow asked a young man to guess her age.\u00a0 “You must have some idea,” she said, as he hesitated.\u00a0 “I have several ideas,” he admitted with a smile.\u00a0 “The trouble is that I hesitate whether to make it ten years younger on account of your looks or ten years older on account of your intelligence.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
At times,\u00a0 we look at flattery with amusement.\u00a0 For example, after receiving a compliment, one might say in a jovial mood, “Flattery will get you nowhere.”\u00a0 Most understand this type of flattery to be in jest, with no intent on the flatter’s part to deceive or manipulate.\u00a0 On the other hand, the type of flattery that one speaks intending to deceive or manipulate, true flattery, should be avoided.<\/p>\n
During the last week of Christ’s life, Jewish leaders tried to trap Him by asking various questions, not out of a sincere desire for the truth, but out of a desire to show Him a blasphemer and a false teacher.\u00a0 For example, the Herodians asked Jesus if it was lawful to give to Caesar or not, but before their question, they tried to “butter Him up” with flattery.\u00a0 Apparently, they wanted to put Jesus off guard.\u00a0 They said, “. . .Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality<\/em>” (Matthew 22:16).\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus did not fall for their flattery.\u00a0 He recognized it and responded, “Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?<\/em>“<\/p>\n In the Old Testament, several passages in the book of Proverbs instruct us about flattery.\u00a0 Two passages reveal the destructive nature of flattery. Proverbs 26:28 says, “A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.<\/em>”\u00a0\u00a0 Proverbs 29:5 points out, “A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.<\/em>” Proverbs\u00a0 20:19 tells us to say away from the flatterer as it says,\u00a0\u00a0 “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.<\/em>”\u00a0 It is too easy to be taken in by the flatterer.\u00a0 Although rebuke is not pleasant, it is more beneficial for us than flattery.\u00a0 This is pointed out in Proverbs 28:23 which says, “He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.<\/em>”\u00a0 We prefer flattery; it is music to our ears.\u00a0 No matter how much it may hurt, constructive criticism is better for us.<\/p>\n The New Testament teaches that Paul and other apostles tried to avoid flattery in working with the early church.\u00a0 In I Thessalonians 2:5, he pointed out to the Thessalonians, “For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness.<\/em>“<\/p>\n It is important to understand that a\u00a0 flatterer depends on giving compliments (which he usually does not even believe)\u00a0 for his own personal gain.\u00a0 These compliments are typically designed to inflate people’s egos.\u00a0 And, people have a tendency to like compliments; they love to hear good things said about themselves.<\/p>\n The person most susceptible to flattery is the one who is lacking in humility, and one who is full of pride.\u00a0 This type of person will lap up flattery as a cat does its milk.\u00a0 Also, people with very low self-confidence can be susceptible to the flatterer. Ironically, a person who attempts to flatter us, thinking that his flattery will work, really shows how little he thinks of us.<\/p>\n We should and must be more complimentary of others.\u00a0 Sometimes out of fear that our compliments might be mistaken for insincere flattery, we often neglect to build people up and to offer deserving compliments and encouragement.\u00a0 Motive is the difference between doing this and merely being a flatterer.\u00a0 One is intended to encourage and give credit where credit is due; the other is self-serving.\u00a0 Flattery is to be avoided.\u00a0 It is hypocritical to be a flatterer, and we must be careful to not use it or to be enticed by it.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Mike Johnson At a reception in Washington, a widow asked a young man to guess her age.\u00a0 “You must have some idea,” she said, as he hesitated.\u00a0 “I have several ideas,” he admitted with a smile.\u00a0 “The trouble is that I hesitate whether to make it ten years younger on account of your looks…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[1583,1057],"class_list":["post-56254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-flattery","tag-persuasion"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":56304,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/pearls-from-proverbs-frankness-finds-favor\/","url_meta":{"origin":56254,"position":0},"title":"Pearls From Proverbs: Frankness Finds Favor","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 26, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Irvin Himmel Via\u00a0Guardian of Truth\u00a0XXXI: 4, p. 108, February 19, 1987 \"He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flattereth with the tongue\" (Proverbs 28:23). Although there are people who do not care what others think about them, most of us desire the esteem\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/scold-234x300.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":58980,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/racketeering\/","url_meta":{"origin":56254,"position":1},"title":"Racketeering","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 12, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"by R.L.Whiteside via. The Bible Banner, 1946 It seems that about every line of human activity is cursed with racketeers. If people were not so gullible, common racketeers could not work their schemes. Racketeering was at first a scheme to obtain money or other advantages by threats of damage to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2005\/02\/ganster.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":52401,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-could-israel-worship-idols-shortly-after-agreeing-to-keep-the-covenant\/","url_meta":{"origin":56254,"position":2},"title":"How could Israel worship idols shortly after agreeing to keep the covenant?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In Exodus 19, everybody hears God telling about the covenant and they all agree. In Exodus 32 we read that when Moses is on the mountain (chapter 21-31) they let Aaron make a golden idol as in Egypt. How can they do that? Answer: I don't know if you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":79248,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/divisive\/","url_meta":{"origin":56254,"position":3},"title":"Divisive","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Chadwick Brewer \"I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery, they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/divisive-300x200.avif","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":62496,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/frankness\/","url_meta":{"origin":56254,"position":4},"title":"Frankness","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 21, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 28:23 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Most of us desire the esteem of those around us. We don\u2019t want people to think bad of us; instead, we want the respect of people. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is that basic desire that Satan exploits - James 1:13-16 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Behind \u201cpride of life\u201d is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":19605,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/summary-of-daniel-11\/","url_meta":{"origin":56254,"position":5},"title":"Summary of Daniel 11","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"compiled by Raymond Warfel The Last Vision The Conflict Between Persia and Greece (Daniel 11:1-4) vs 1 - Who strengthened whom? Verse 1 is a continuation of chapter 10, so it is referring to the angel who brings Daniel the message. vs 2 - Three more kings are to come\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56254"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56254\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}