Matthew 5:13-16, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Without question this text suggests the theme of Christian influence. We all have influence on other people regardless of age, position, or status. When it comes to influence, the Bible has much to say in the matter.
We Must Recognize That We Influence Others And Are Influenced By Others.
1 Corinthians 5:6, “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?”
This statement is found two times in the New Testament. (see also Galatians 5:9) The word leaven is found 11 times in the New Testament and is used to illustrate to us the power of influence. All of us have influence, the question is, is it good or bad? The kind of influence we have on others is based on what we allow to influence ourselves and if we are not careful, some influences may be slowly changing us.
Your Companions Will Influence You For Good Or Bad.
Proverbs 13:20, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.” (ASV)
If we allow the leaven of this world to influence us, our lives will slowly be changed from what God would have them to be, into lives filled with worldliness and sin. It only takes one companion with wicked thoughts and wicked lifestyle to gradually lead you into the same kind of sin.
Our Influence Can Cause Another To Be Converted To Christ.
1 Peter 3:1-2, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.”
Even if the husband is not a Christian, the woman is to be submissive. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 7, said that a Christian may win their mate to Christ by the way they conduct themselves. Peter approaches the same topic in telling wives to be submissive to their husbands. Even if some don’t obey the word (Gospel) preached, they might be converted without a word from their wives by the proper conduct from their wives. No one can become a Christian without obeying the Gospel.
Our Influence Will Outlast Us.
Hebrews 11:4, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.”
The first person on this earth that we have record who died was Abel. Yet his influence still lives on. We read of his influence, how his sacrifice, by faith, was offered. And his example of obedient faith still lives on today. Sometimes we don’t realize the power of our influence in the lives of others. We need to strive to have an influence of good, rather than bad. Our influence continues to live even after our death. We can all think of people who have had influence in our lives, we remember how they helped us, we remember the examples they set in our lives.
If you are a Christian who hasn’t set a good influence, you need to repent. Start today.
-Jerry D. Sturgill
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