Appreciation has to with speaking well of someone or letting them know how good they are. Flattery, on the other hand, is exaggerated appreciation. For example, when someone says that a lady is beautiful, that is a simple compliment. However, when such a person goes further to say that she is the most beautiful girl in the whole world and that she is his ride or die because, without her, he would not be able to breathe, that is flattery. Likewise, if a girl says that a man is the most powerful man in the world and that he has the strength of a thousand men, just know that she is lying.
Jesus, who is all in all, did not encourage flattery. When a disciple called Him good, He said, “Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.” He didn’t draw unnecessary attention to Himself; rather, He redirected the attention of the fellow who called Him good to God. As much as possible, avoid people who exaggerate or who are quick to shower accolades on you so that you don’t get easily distracted.
Skip to content 
