Napoleon Hill said, “think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.” As Christians today, our living can either do one of two things: draw others to Christ or push them away. How mindful are you when it comes to your influence? As the church, we must be aware of our impact on the brethren and those in the world. Jesus stresses the importance of influence in Matthew 5:13 – 16,
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:13 – 16, NASB).
Based on this text we can easily conclude that Christian influence is of the utmost importance to our Lord and Savior. The question is, how we can be influential in our living?
The Christian Must Hold to Their Convictions
We live in trying times; it is essential that we hold to our biblical convictions as saints. Our convictions help us stand firm in what we believe. When we are consistent in our living, we gain the respect of those in the world. Brother Wendell Winkler said, “The depth of one’s conviction measures the range of his influence.”
A Christian with no personal convictions will be wishy-washy, indecisive, and easily led astray simply because they are not grounded and rooted in the commands of the Bible; as a result, their influence is ruined because they do not stand for the word of God. It is vitally important that we remain loyal to our convictions in this world. As followers of Christ, we cannot lose them and forget about our beliefs. When a Christian decides to lay aside their principles in Christ, they tend to adopt how the world behaves and thinks. They’re cursing, telling filthy jokes, tolerating sinful lifestyles, and talking about their boss and other employees in a negative way, never realizing that their influence is slowly fading and their light is slowly dimming.
It is imperative for us as the church to stay strong and remain true to our convictions if we want to influence the people we see everyday. We cannot allow ourselves to be swayed by the world’s mode of living. The Bible teaches us in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world.” We must remain faithful to our biblical convictions. Our lives should be consistent with what we believe if we want to have a profound impact on those around us in this life. A life that is interwoven with the Bible is a life worth imitating. How bright is your light? How influential are you? Wendell Winkler said, “Men who move the world are men whom the world cannot move.”
When our lights are shining like they are supposed to people will ask, “Why do you live the way you do?” Remember, your Christian life can either draw others to Christ or push them away.
