Several years ago, I was privileged to attend the thanksgiving service of the newly appointed SSG in one of the states in Niger Delta. The governor and other dignitaries were in attendance. The priest who preached on that day left the bible and he began to flatter the governor. He campaigned for his second term ambition on the pulpit.

His words showed to everyone that he wanted something from the governor. I perceive it was donation for the construction of a new cathedral because the church space was small and it was obvious they wanted to build.

Kent Hughes says: “Gossip involves saying behind a person’s back what you would never say to his or her face. Flattery means saying to a person’s face what you would never say behind his or her back”.

Corruption fuels flattery. Corrupt people know how to flatter people because of what they want to get. A flatterer knows how to sing the praises of men whom they want to extort. Most times, what they say about their victim is untrue.

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

One of the charm of seductive and strange women is flattery: "To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the stranger which flattereth with her words"( Proverbs 2:16 KJV). That shows that corrupt motive and evil is behind flattery.

Those who talk too much are prone to flattery. To become acceptable to their listeners, they employ the tool of flattery. Beware of those who sing your praises for no reason. The are putting banana peels on your path. If you step on it, your feet will slip and you'll find yourself falling into their trap.