Be Still And Know

Proverbs 28:23 The first three words are the crucial ones in this verse! At first, probably all of us would rather be overwhelmed by flattery than offered criticism. We all want to be loved and to have people tell us how wonderful we are. But, as the writer says, in the end honest criticism is far more valuable. We will be forever grateful for those words of wisdom that give us insight and enable us to live better lives. My driving instructor had a background in training police drivers and was very demanding. At the time, his words were strong and could even sound rather harsh. But I haven’t forgotten them and, as I look back now, I am so grateful for the guidance he gave. If he had showered me with unqualified praise it wouldn’t have been any help to me or any other road users! The problem with flattery is that it is like candy floss; it has no substance. Edmund Burke, the 18th-Century politician, said: “Flattery corrupts both the receiver and giver.” This is because it is a distortion of the truth.