STEWARDS OF INFLUENCE

in_-flu-ence - n., the power to sway or affect based on prestige, wealth, ability or status.

v., to move by moral power, to act on and affect as the mind or will in persuading or dissuading, to induce.

What grade would you give yourself as a Christian in the area of exerting your influence? At the heart of this lesson is our need to a) realize that we have influence, b) understand this power more fully, c) identify our scope of influence, and d) utilize our influence more effectively for God.

The Source

Power to influence others can come from authority, as with the influence of a state trooper to change the speed of traffic on the interstate; from physical strength, as with a bully who intimidates smaller kids; and from celebrity, as with TV/film/sports stars whose endorsements influence consumer purchasing; but the influence we consider here is derived from trust and confidence. How does influence rooted in trust and confidence develop? With whom are we most likely to have influence? On the back of this paper, list those people with whom you feel you have a fair amount of influence. Beside each name, mark whether the person is saved or not, and when you last spoke to each one about his/her soul.

Trust and confidence are earned one day at a time. They are built through consistency, honesty, loyalty and integrity. Consider these scriptures: Prov. 22:1; Acts 6:3; II Cor. 8:18-24; I Tim. 3:7; and 1 Pet. 2:11-12.

Profiles in Influence

First, let us consider a negative profile - one where a righteous man squandered his influence by compromising his witness with profane associations: Abraham's nephew, Lot. This tragic account is found in Gen. 13:1-13 and 18:1 - 19:29. Notice in chapter 19, at the critical moment when Lot's influence needed to be at its strongest in order to persuade his sons-in-law to flee the impending doom, verse 14 says they did not take Lot seriously. Instead, they blew him off as "one who mocked." Unable to steal Lot's salvation, Satan settled for undermining Lot's influence.

In contrast, the Bible offers many stellar examples of men and women who built, preserved and wielded their influence for God's glory: Noah's and Abraham's impact on their families, the Israelite maid whose witness resulted in the cure of Naaman, Esther's intercession for the Jews, the Apostles' stabilization of the early church. One especially beautiful picture is that of Lois, whose influence reached two generations, through her daughter Eunice, to her grandson Timothy.

Our Awesome Charge

because we arc ambassadors for Christ who purchased us with his own blood, we have an obligation to have an impact for Him on those around us. Consider Mt. 5:13-16 and Phil. 2:14-16. It is not enough to build or even preserve our influence; unless we use our influence, we are as the unprofitable servant who failed to make good use of the talents he was given, and who met with great disfavor upon the return of his master (Mt. 25:14-30).

Prov. 11:30 tells us "I le that winneth souls is wise." Dan. 12:3 speaks of the reward for those who "turn many to righteousness": they will "shine as the brightness of the firmament" and "as the stars forever and ever." Think of the eternal impact as mentioned in Ja. 5:19-20. No wonder Paul wrote in II Cor. 5:10-11, that "knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men..."

Realization/Conclusion

If I am to be a good steward of the influence with which God has blessed me, 1 must use it. I must leverage my relationships and encounters so as to impact those around me with the message of my own experience involving this glorious "whosoever" salvation!