“There are three kinds of flatterers:
The first kind praises and encourages someone’s good behavior. But they overdo it. They make a person feel better than they really are. Lavish praise is the first type of flattery.
The second kind takes an openly soiled reputation that is beyond denial and makes light of it. ‘You are not the first person to do this. Many other do things that are worse.’
The third kind of flatterer is the worst of all. They praise an evil person’s conduct. To a knight who has robbed the poor they will say, ‘That’s not a bad thing to do. Prune a willow and it will sprout even better.’ Such misguided flatterers actually blind the ones who listen to them. They cloak a foul odor with perfume. This is too bad. If they smelled it, it would make them sick. They would hurry to confession and avoid it in the future.”
The author is anonymous and judging by the wording one could attribute this to the Middle Ages. What I find fascinating is that it is still true today. Perhaps it is better to simply tell the truth.
This Week’s Readings:
- Monday – Luke 1
- Tuesday – Luke 2
- Wednesday – Luke 3
- Thursday – Luke 4
- Friday – Luke 5
Please Pray for:
- Our ministers and their families.
- Those who are unwillingly absent.
- The United Methodist Church family.
- Our nation and our leaders.
- The World.
- The Lost.
- The lives of those touched by the Coronavirus.