Beware of Flattery and Deification by Men! Daniel 6:7-9 New International Version (NIV) “The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den … So King Darius put the decree in writing”. For Meditation Do you know that people seek only their self-interest and none of yours when they flatter you with their smooth words and make you feel like deity to be worshiped? Do you know that when they raise you up that way, you become so big and important in your own eyes that you lose caution and self-restraint? Did King Darius know this truth when he put his signature to such a useless decree as the one his leaders proposed in Dan. 6:7-9? Did he know the implications of his actions? Why didnt the king stop to think through the decree carefully before signing it? Did he consider the motive of his officials when they came up with the idea? (vv.3-8). Don’t you think it would have made a difference if he had asked these questions before signing the decree? How about you? Do you stop to think through and ask questions when people come to you with all kinds of proposals that appeal to the flesh? Do you ever stop to think and know that they may be using you for their own selfish interest? Do you realize how careless and senseless you could become if you give in to flattery and people-worship – the time when people make you feel so important as to suggest that you deserve nothing short of worship? (V.7). Do you know how dangerous it is to be caught in that trap (vv.11-18)? And more importantly, do you know how abominable it is to God to set yourself up, by any means, to receive worship? For, isnt He, God Almighty, the only One who deserves praise and must be worshiped? I pray you will not allow yourself to be used by men who seek nothing more than their selfish interest, but that you will get off the throne of God - the only place where worship appropriately and ceaselessly flows (Rev. 4:8-11). May you be vigilant against flattery, and be wise when men seek to make you feel like deity to be worshiped; but rather, may you be like Paul and Barnabas who refused to be deified and worshiped in Lystra (Acts 14:8-15). It is the only way to keep your head straight and humble, and to allow God, who alone deserves worship, to be God. Shalom Pastor Baafi
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:54:42 +0000
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