Why is it important to avoid flattery according to Job 32:22?

Setting the Scene

Job 32:22 — “For I do not know how to flatter; otherwise my Maker would remove me in an instant.”

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What Flattery Actually Is

• More than polite praise; it is insincere, manipulative talk

• Designed to curry favor, gain advantage, or avoid necessary truth

• Opposite of the honesty God esteems (Psalm 51:6)

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Why Avoiding Flattery Matters

• It offends the God of truth

– Psalm 12:2-3 exposes flattering lips as deceitful

• It invites divine discipline

– Job 32:22 warns of swift removal by “my Maker” when flattery is practiced

• It harms the listener

– Proverbs 29:5: “A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.”

• It corrupts the speaker

– 1 Thessalonians 2:5: Paul rejects any ministry built on flattering words

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God’s Perspective Summarized

1. Truth is a moral absolute; flattery breaks it.

2. Integrity matters more than human approval.

3. God Himself monitors speech and judges motives instantly.

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Personal Checkpoints

• Motivation: Am I praising to encourage or to manipulate?

• Accuracy: Am I stretching the truth to sound impressive?

• Outcome: Does my speech direct attention to God’s glory or to self-interest?

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Living It Out

• Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:25).

• Let words be few, factual, and faith-building.

• Seek the Lord’s commendation, not human applause (Colossians 3:23-24).