1.21-Never miss a chance to catch someone doing something right.

1.21-Never miss a chance to catch someone doing something right.

Never use flattery to move someone to do something you want them to do.  This is not like Jesus.  Speak the truth or nothing at all. 

On the other hand,

Last year I had several times that I thought of writing a personal note to Ron Beasley, the pastoral counselor at my church.  I wanted to compliment him on a positive impact he made on another of member who had spoken highly of his work with her.  I didn’t get around to writing the note.  

 Then suddenly he moved from earth to heaven last month.

This taught me something.

Do not use flattery, but do not fail to affirm people while they are alive.

Give them encouraging, genuine, positive thoughts when you can.

Say what is on your heart of an affirmative nature today.

Do not worry about what they might or might not think of your motivation.  It doesn’t matter.  You don’t even know what your motivation is and no one does but God, but to love people and let them know you love them and why is always timely and a good thing.

Mark 12:38-40

He continued teaching. “Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions, sitting at the head table at every church function. And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless. The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they’ll pay for it in the end.”

1 Corinthians 4.3, The Message

It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion. I don’t even rank myself. Comparisons in these matters are pointless.