The world is replete with deadly things - ranging from animals that can crack the human skull with a single blow to chemicals that can corrode the stomach and intestinal linings in less than 5minutes
But we have failed to accrue due attention to the deadliest of them all - THE PRAISES OF MEN
Yes...its deadliness can never be over-emphasized . The worst harm is not pulling a trigger that would immediately shatter a man's skull but that which is wrought quietly and slowly, insidiously wrecking havoc to a man's spiritual, social, mental, psychological and physical well-being
The praises of men destroys in a very similar fashion. Just like the local "nkapi" (the rat with a long snout) who blows you breeze while nipping at your fingers. It is also likened to the false sense of pleasure, security and freedom marijuana offers to its users while concomitantly wrecking havoc on their brain, lungs and heart.
The praises of men are borne out of two main reasons
1. Sycophantic reasons: This involves excessively praising a man with the sole aim of getting something out of him
2. Genuine but appearance-based reasons: This is when a man is genuinely praised based on the actions he visibly puts up. People do not follow him to his closet to discover the real "him"
While the first confers its own damage by intoxicating a man into thinking he is all-powerful and important when he is not, it can not the compared to the second which is extremely dangerous because it influences him into taking desperate actions to continue to appear good, thereby leading a double life
The Bible, a Book filled with infallible truths and promises that will forever stand the test of time, overflows with instances that aptly illustrates the second reason behind the praises of men.
An example is cited in 1samuel 27:2-12 based on David. I will spare you the stress of reading by briefly recounting the story now:
David, while trying to escape being killed by king Saul, fled to the land of the Philistines to stay with prince Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
David then entreated Achish to give him a land to stay with his men so they wouldnt bother him in the royal city. So Achish, out of the trust he had for David, gave him the town of Ziklag and they lived there for 16months.
But David, behind Achish's back, went and invaded the villages of the Geshurites, Girzites and the Amalekites - people who were harmless, unprepared and neither expected nor warranted David's attack- plundering and enriching himself with cattles, clothing etc
In a desperate attempt to conceal his actions and retain Achish's trust, David killed everyone in those villages so that no one would be alive to tell Achish what he had done.
How wicked of him!
After his evil deeds, David would go back home to Achish who would then ask him where and where he had been to that day. David would answer "I have been to the southern part of Judah, Jerahmeel and Kenites".
David so misled Achish with the "good" side of his double life that Achish never had the slightest inkling as to how bad David was.
Infact, in chapter 29, Achish referred to David as an angel in whom he had never found a single flaw.
What a deception!
The best thing a man should strive to achieve is having a conscience void of offence toward God FIRST and toward men SECOND, and not seeking to be men pleasers or attracting the praises of me