Flattery Will Get You…

Acts 24:2-4

When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: “You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. For all of this, Your Excellency, we are very grateful to you. But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment.

The lawyer was smooth, you can say that for him. He had one job, schmooze the governor into killing Paul.

He started off with a lie, and it went downhill from there. Tertullus called Felix “your excellency.” In reality, Felix was born a slave. Felix only rose to power because his brother, Pallas, was a friend of Emperor Claudius.

Then Tertullus buttered up Felix even more by talking about how thankful the Jews were for the reforms Felix has made to keep the peace. In truth, Felix was a cruel and barbaric man, and the Jews hated him because of how he ruled them. David Guzik wrote, “he ordered a massacre of thousands of Jews in Caesarea, with many more Jewish homes looted by the Roman soldiers.”

In short, Tertullus lied through flattery. If I had been there listening to this rubbish, my eyes would have rolled so hard I could see the back of my skull! Give me a break, Tertullus!

How many times have you heard the phrase, “Flattery will get you everywhere.” But will it? In a passage talking about sinners, Jude 1:16 says, “These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.”

Here’s an idea: quit being insincere, and just be real. Compliment people to make them feel good, but not to butter them up for your gain. Be an encourager, not someone with empty platitudes that people, even the flatteree, know just aren’t true.

Sincerity should be our stock in trade, not flattery.

Today’s Readings: Numbers 1,2; Acts 24

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