Proverbs 27:14 - Meaning and Application

It is a great mistake to praise even our best friends and helpers too much. We should give people the honor they deserve, and we should gladly thank them for the kindness they have shown. But when praise is loud, constant, and repeated in every company, even to the person’s face, it becomes sickening. It starts to sound fake, as if the speaker has some hidden plan.

Praising people only to get more from them is really just flattery. Everyone can see that the flatterer hopes to be rewarded for his praise. We must also be careful not to give people the kind of praise that belongs to God alone. Some people think this warning may be hinted at in the words about rising early, since God should be praised in the morning. Others take it to mean that we should not be too quick to praise people’s gifts and work before they have been tested.

It is an even greater mistake to enjoy being praised in that way ourselves. A wise person often sees such praise as a trap and even as harm. Gentle praise may encourage others to add more, but excessive praise can make people pull back and criticize instead. Overpraising also stirs up envy, since people do not like to see too much honor given to one person. Worst of all, it can feed pride, because people are tempted to think too highly of themselves when others speak too highly of them. Paul was careful not to be overvalued in this way (2 Corinthians 12:6).