The Word of God warns us to be on guard when people speak to us with flattery. There is a difference in speaking the truth in love, and flattery. Flattery is giving excessive compliments for the purpose of ingratiating oneself with the another. We do this sometimes to release our guilty feelings because we are jealous of another or we have thought bad things about them. Proverbs 26:28b A flattering mouth worketh ruin. Proverbs 29:5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. We should appreciate loving honesty more than flattery speech. Proverbs 27:5,6 Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Gods Word gives us wisdom to discern and escape the snare of flattery. Proverbs 2:10,11,16 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words. We must not be guilty of flattery. Psalm 15:1,2 Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 2:3-6a For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6a Nor of men sought we glory. Psalm 12:3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things. Father, thank you for teaching me the truth about this practice. Continue to teach my tongue, so I dont have to feel the shape point of Thy tongue clippers and the immediate break in our fellowship because of this my sin. In Jesus HOLY name, Amen
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 12:48:51 +0000