Influence
By Lilly Evans
Can you tell a person’s character by the places they go? Can you tell where their priorities are?
Today I want to talk about influence and the huge impact that you can have on others around you.
Today we are going to look at three ways in which you have influence, not only on yourself but on others.
Influence by…
The Places You Go
Speech/The Things That You Say To Others
The People You Spend Time With And Are Associated With
The Places You Go
Who, What, Where, When?
Who is going to these places?
What are they and/or you going to be doing there?
Where are you at? Is it a godly environment?
When are you and your friends going to be there?
These are great questions to ask when thinking about the places you go.
Who is going to the places? You. I’m going to be talking about this lesson from a Christian’s standpoint. So, You, a Christian, are going to this place. Is this a place a Christian should be? Who will you be around? Are they a good influence on you? We also need to think about how we have many eyes watching us whenever we go out and how we interact, who we associate with, and what we are doing. Will their opinion of you change after seeing you at this place? Will being there hurt your influence to accomplish good in His kingdom?
What are you doing? Are we different from the world? Are we showing Christ in everything that we are doing? Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
If someone put you side by side with a worldly person, could they tell the difference? They should be able to. What are we doing? Are we participating in sinful activities?
What are some things a Christian shouldn’t do and why?
Where are you at? This is a big question. Where are you at? What place are you going to? Are you at a place where the people around you are participating in sinful activities? Are you sinning?
What are some examples of places a Christian should and shouldn’t be and why?
Places not to be: bars, dance clubs, etc.
Places to be: church activities, outreach programs, Bible studies, etc.
When are you there? Are you at iffy places during odd and dangerous hours? Are you at a place at a time that could cause you to be tempted and sin? Are you at places doing other things when the saints are gathered together? Are you forsaking the assembly for something that is acceptable (like sickness), or are you putting other things before God? We must ask ourselves: where are our priorities? Are we truly putting our God first?
Hebrews 10:25: “not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
2. Speech
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col. 4:6).
We should use our words to lift others up, encourage them, be positive, and do good with our words. Our words need to be beneficial and “impart grace to the hearers” (Eph. 4:29). Never should we be found using our words and influence to put someone else down or cause reproach upon the church of our Lord!
3. The People You Spend Time With
The people you spend time with have a big influence. But, are they influencing you to be more worldly, or are they helping you be a better Christian and helping you grow? Are you, as a Christian teaching them by your influence to follow Christ, or that to be like the world is perfectly fine with God? We must be careful with who we are influenced by, and who we influence in our lives.
“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17).
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20).
Are the people you’re around participating in sinful activities? Are they tempting you to? Are they slowly pulling you farther away from what you know is right and true? If so, it may be time to distance yourself. Keep being a godly influence on them as best you can, but at a safe distance as to not lose your own soul. Jesus ate with sinners, but He did not sin with them. We must be close enough to bring people to Him, but not so close that a sin might occur.
So ask yourself: am I a godly influence on the people around me? Am I showing them God’s light through my actions and words?
And: are my friends helping me get to heaven, or are they pulling me away from the light?