Infinite Influence

 Do you think of yourself as an influential person?  I think most of us would say no.  Not in the way the world defines influential, anyway.  Most of us aren’t quoted in the newspaper or on the evening news.  We’re not in People Magazine.  But, I believe though, that we need to re-think that. 

If you’re a parent, think back to when your kids were just learning to walk and talk.  Did you ever listen in on their games and hear your exact words, right down to tone and inflection, coming out of your child’s mouth?  You had an influence on your child’s language development.  YIKES!

As we finish up with Solomon and Ecclesiastes this next week, we’d have to agree that he was an extremely influential person…he was the most powerful man of his time, right?  Think of the power for good he could have been if he had stayed true to what he knew was right.  Instead, he was influenced by the women in his life, and drifted away from God.  And, even though he ultimately returned to walk with God, he couldn’t take back what he had already done.  Mrs. White says this:

“Solomon’s repentance was sincere; but the harm that his example of evil-doing had wrought could not be undone…“His influence for good was greatly weakened. …he could never hope entirely to destroy the baleful influence of his wrong deeds…“Among the many lessons taught by Solomon’s life, none is more strongly emphasized than the power of influence for good or for ill.  However contracted may be our sphere, we still exert an influence for weal or woe.  Beyond our knowledge or control, it tells upon others in blessing or cursing…“That our influence should be a savor of death unto death is a earful thought, yet it is possible.  One soul misled, forfeiting eternal bliss—who can estimate the loss!  And yet, one rash act, one thoughtless word, on our part may exert so deep an influence on the life of another that it will prove the ruin of his soul.” Prophets and Kings,pp84,85

When I was teaching, I was always amazed that no matter how many times I explained a task or assignment correctly, if I misspoke in some way and gave some wrong information, just one time, that’s the part my students remembered.  Even when I corrected myself and explained the mistake, the students never got that particular thing right.  The wrong sticks in our heads soooo much better than the right does.  Isn’t that frustrating?

Doug Bachelor has a sermon about influence and in it he reminds us that no matter where we are or what we are doing, we are influencing somebody for either good or bad.  We have no neutral ground…ever!

So, are you, am I, an influential person?  The answer is absolutely!  A few years ago, I taught with a woman who proclaimed often and loudly that she was an atheist.  We taught together every single day for three years.  I have to say at the beginning, it was pretty rough, and we really got on each other’s nerves.  One day, in the middle of one of our fights, someone reminded me that it is impossible to hate someone you pray for.  That struck a nerve, so, grudgingly I started to pray for her.  Nothing grand, just, “Lord, help her to be nicer.”  By the way, I wasn’t being nice either.  We were equally guilty.  Actually, I was probably more guilty because I know what Jesus would have done in the same situation, and I was NOT doing it…or even attempting it. 

Anyway, something frightening happened over the next three years; we became absolutely best friend, and she was baptized into the Adventist church.  I say frightening because when we talked about what had led her to be interested in learning more, she explained that it was because she had watched me over the years and had seen something there that she wanted in her own life.  WHOA!!!  I started rewinding those years to find out what I had done/not done that would have shown anything worth wanting and what I saw was not what I would describe as good.  I hadn’t witnessed to her; I hadn’t even invited her to church.  I think the only time we ever discussed anything even remotely Biblical was to argue about evolution vs. creation.  And yet, she did come to church.  Amen!

 

Now I know that the Holy Spirit is in charge of these things (Praise the Lord), and that my friend just thought she was seeing me and was really being led by the Holy Spirit. 

But that sense of responsibility has never left me.  I’m not saying that I always exert the best, or even the right, influence, but when I remember that experience, I am awed at the power of one person watching another person.  I’m also terrified.  What a huge responsibility!

Think about the week that just ended.  What kind of influence have you been?  What kind of influence have I been?  Can I be better this coming week?  What do I need to do differently?  God is longing for us to ask exactly those kinds of questions, because He has so much He wants to give us.

“He longs to give you understanding in temporal as well as in spiritual matters.  He can sharpen the intellect.  He can give tact and skill.  Put your talents into the work, ask God for wisdom, and it will be given you.”  E.G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 146