CAN EVERY ONE OF US BE INFLUENTIAL?

“God will never lead contrary to His word—so get acquainted with the Word of God, the Bible. Pray. He leads through the illumination of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Use whatever you have and be faithful. We are called to serve Christ in our sphere of influence.” ― Billy Graham.

An important aspect of life is influence. Each one of us influences someone in this world. You don’t have to be famous, rich, or successful. You don’t need an impressive degree or many followers on social media. A specific age, nationality, or personality is not a requirement, and your job, location, or marital status do not limit you.

Everyone has influence. As Christians, we have the opportunity and often the ability to make a profound difference in the lives of others. Every believer can impact someone else’s life for good or bad. We can make a difference in someone’s life at work, a restaurant, church, home, or just by talking to a neighbor by the fence. They will be influenced one way or another by what you say and do. As Christians, it often seems that God’s greatest moments for us are never for us alone. These pivotal moments are always about our lives touching the lives of others or someone touching ours. A life touched by God always ends up touching others.

When you enter a store, you can make or break the cashier’s day by what you say and do. The same is true for UPS drivers, people working at Publix, or the person at the bank.  God calls us to be good stewards of every kind of influence we have. Paul writes, “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that” (Galatians 6:4 MSG). The question before us today is: how will we choose to use our influence?

We can actively choose to use our influence to further God’s Kingdom.  Consider the example of Daniel, who used his influence to bring glory to God, even in the face of adversity. He chose to put God first, and as a result, he gained wisdom, favor, and the ability to influence others toward righteousness. Similarly, we can prioritize God in our lives and allow His character to shine through our actions and words.

Influence is relational. Think about the most influential people in your life—those who shaped or changed you the most—those you admire, respect, and want to be like.  I’ll bet they built you up, empowered you, and called out the best in you. They gave you encouragement or opportunities to become a better you. Your influence grows when you stop thinking about being great or being an influence and start thinking about empowering others to be great.

We need to do the same for the people in our lives. Remember that God created you to have influence. Not because you’re great but because God is great. And because He has allowed us to have influence. All influence requires is interaction with people—and we all have that ability.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do your views and opinions influence your friends? Why or why not? How do your peers respect your beliefs and values?
2. How do you positively influence your friends?
3. What can we do this week to be a better influence on others?