Read the Word:
Mark 12:13-17
Meditate on the Word:
When the enemies of Christ came to try to trap Him, they employed a tactic as old as people in order to attempt to throw Him off. The Pharisees and the Herodians used flattery to try to get the Lord to say something careless. While the words that they used to flatter Jesus were true, their hearts were not. Of course Jesus taught without partiality. He also taught the way of God truthfully. These enemies did not believe this however. They were simply trying to butter Him up to get Him to slip and say something that they could use against Him.
Flattery continues to be a tactic used by the enemy. Proverbs 29:5 reminds us, “A person who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.” The reason it is often so effective is that we have an innate desire to have people think and say nice things about us. Social media works largely on this premise. It feeds on (and feeds) our desire to have what we post and say get “likes” and positive comments. This can be dangerous, especially for those with a “people-pleasing” mentality. It can also be dangerous for those who are too ready to fight. Including pastors. Charles Spurgeon once said to pastors, “It is always best not to know, nor wish to know, what is being said about you, either by friends or foes. Those who praise us are probably as much mistaken as those who abuse us.”
Pray the Word:
Ask our Lord, through the Holy Spirit, to reveal to you the motives of those who say flattering things to you. Tell our Lord that you realize that only His approval is needed.
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