You like to be recognized for a job well done. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You work hard and put forth a lot of effort and get recognized for the fruit of your labors. In fact, that is done far too seldom.
What you need to be careful of, though, are those times when a person flatters you. They go out of their way to pour one compliment after another. John Billings has some counsel you need to follow: “Flattery is like cologne water – to be smelled not swallowed.” When other people flatter you, accept the words they say, but do not let them affect you personally.
Flattery is not only something that can cause you to think higher of yourself than you ought to think, but it can have a negative impact on your life. When you accept flattery, it changes the way you think of yourself, and the way you respond to others. All of this occurs in a very negative way.
Scripture has a good bit to say about flattery. None of it is in a good light. The result of you accepting the flattery and living in light of it, can have disastrous effects on you. The Bible gives a strict warning in Proverbs 26:28, “And a flattering mouth works ruin” (NJKV). Notice, that this verse says that flattery is not just something that is bad to do. Something that is not desirous. It says that flattery “works ruin.” Flattery brings total destruction to your life.
Yes, when you believe those flattering words, your life takes a turn for the worse. You are on a spiral path downward. That path ends with you being ruined.
Flattery does cause you to get a big head, which leads to your ruin. Don’t go there. Do not listen to the press clippings others give about you. Do not listen to flattery!
