Manipulating others with your words is similar to flattery. Flattery is often used to influence ones 'target' to some self-serving end. There's no integrity nor sincerity.
When one wishes to bend another to ones will and way, coercive words and behavior can steal the other of their freewill choice, if they are not alert to the manipulation.
Have you ever tried it? Bribery, blackmail and such are also related tactics. Not nice at all! Hopefully, as followers of Jesus Christ we will eliminate manipulative speech and behavior from our character.
Stating our case with pros and cons, I feel is different. One can still leave the end choice to the other and hopefully accept their decison in the end.
This is what Jesus does. He prepared the gift of salvation, wrapped in all its swaddling clothes of blessings: forgiveness of sins, eternal life, imputed righteousness; adoption into His family, able to have a close relationship with Him; Holy Spirit's indwelling and so much more.
He offers this with arms outstretched but still leaves the choice up to the individual. We do well to follow His example in all we do and say. Sometimes we watch on, brokenhearted, as the person makes a bad decision, just as Jesus once wept over Jerusalem who didn't want His intervention.
Nevertheless, be neither a manipulative perpetrator nor a victim of such a person. Let's follow Jesus' instead. He showed us the way (see Luke 20:19-26 - READ it). He'll never steer us wrong and only acts for our good and best benefit, and in our best interest.
Here's what Deborah Smith Pegues wrote in her book 30 Days to Taming YOUR Tongue, on which this blog entry is based,
"Because I am in right standing with God, He surrounds me with favor. Therefore, I have no need to manipulate anyone for personal gain or advantage" (p. 24).
Let's keep this in mind and act upon it. He has given us the Holy Spirit to empower us to right action.
Father God, there have been times when I tried to use wheedling ways to get what I wanted. It was wrong and I'm sorry. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Teach me Your ways that I might not sin against You or others. Surround me with Your favor. I ask in Jesus' name, amen.
~ ERC April 2025 ~
Based on Luke 20:19-26 ESV. Also 30 Days to Taming YOUR Tongue by Deborah Smith Pegues.
Sing, Sanctus Real - Jesus Loves You, along with dan4Jesus.
Photo: Let's Not Spin Yarns.