Too Much Praise?

In Sunday’s message we said: Praise you spouse. But is there such a thing as too much praise? I doubt it. In this post we’ll discuss arrogant people, praise, and Christian speech.

No doubt we’ve all met boorish, arrogant, obnoxious people. Maybe you think your spouse is boorish, arrogant and obnoxious. I certainly hope not. But we all know people like this. What do we do with these arrogant people? Is it really wise to praise them?

I’d say yes. As difficult as that may be, I’d say praise them.

In my experience, arrogant people are not too secure they are too insecure. It seems to me they are so riddled with insecurity that they compensate for it by portraying a false front to others of who they’d like to be. These people need authentic, knowing praise. Praise for who they are as a person and not who they think they should be or what they’ve accomplished.

I don’t think there is such a thing as too much praise. I think we can praise the wrong things about people. But I don’t think a person can receive too much praise, too much encouragement, too much affirmation.

And we certainly don’t need to “cut people down to their size”. Life will do that. What we’re supposed to do with our speech is clear from Scriptures.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

I’m not saying it’s easy. But the Scriptures are clear. Our words are to build up people. I don’t think we need to worry about too much praise. I think we need to worry about too little.

So to the married couples: Praise your spouse.

And to the rest: Praise those around you.