Comment: In the days of the early church, Herod delivered an oration to the people and they declared that it was the voice of God. He thus took the glory that belonged to God for himself and suffered instant and open punishment as it is written, “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.” [that is breath of life] (Acts 12:20 -23).

Flattery is to give “compliments to somebody too much, “without sincerity, especially in order to gain an advantage”. To honour a human being as if he is God Almighty is a sin, and this is what Elihu, the Buzite said he does not know how to do, because it attracts punishment from God. Sycophants and praise singers usually surround people who are in a position to dispense benefits to people. As Christians we should not praise people more than they really are; worst of all attributing to them qualities and abilities which belong to God Almighty. The Bible says that “a flattering mouth worketh ruin”. (Proverbs 26:28) And “A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet.” – Proverbs 29:5.

Moreover, St. Paul told the Christians at Thessalonica that he and his colleagues at no time used flattering words, “nor a cloke of covetousness” in all their relations with the brethren. This attitude we should adopt in order to render noble service to God.