Text - Proverbs 29:5 – “A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet”
Yesterday, we started off on the topic of flattery and we established the danger of flattering others, but how about being flattered? How should we respond when we are being flattered?
Let me tell you the tale of two kings – King Herod and King Canute
We read the story of King Herod in Acts 12:21-23: “And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”
About 1000 years after Herod, there arose a King, Cnut the great, who ruled over England, Denmark and Norway. He was surrounded by a lot of sycophants, and according to history, he got fed up of their continual flattery and determined to put an end to it.
He ordered that his throne be carried out to the seashore and that his courtiers be gathered about it. There and then, the king asked them to repeat all their flattery concerning his power and might, and they did.
King Canute then commanded the tide not to come in, but the tide did not obey him; instead, the waters began to lap around his legs. History records that King Canute then rose up from his throne and said, “Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings, for there is none worthy of the name, but He whom Heaven, earth, and sea obey by eternal laws.”
Which of these two kings would you rather be like? Herod or Canute
Truth is, flattery can be sweet. Even when you are fully aware that the things being said are not true, or are being said with a wrong motive, you may still find that you enjoy hearing those puffed-up words.
When it comes to shielding ourselves from flattery and the dangerous effects that accompany it; chiefly pride and arrogance; the best antidote is humility. Certainly, it’s good to have a lot of confidence and courage, but this must be balanced with humility.
When you allow flattery to get into your head, what happens is that you have a distorted view of yourself, often thinking more highly of yourself in terms of your strength, abilities and aptitudes. Thus pride, overconfidence and arrogance sets in.
Flattery has led to the fall of many Christians, because they dared to attempt things that were beyond them, believing a flattery commendation that they could do it. Upon trial, they fail, and this destroys their pride, confidence, ego; shatters their emotions, and leaves them broken. Worse still, they may incur the wrath of God.
PRAYER
Lord, please preserve me always from the sweetness of flattery, which leads unwittingly into difficult and deadly snares. Keep me humble in regard to myself, but help me evermore to be confident and full of courage in Your promises and power in Jesus Name.