[320 words]
You know what people who are really popular on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok are called? Influencers. I guess because so many people follow them and are influenced by them. Well, let me tell you who the real influencers are supposed to be: Christians – you and me – and we don’t need to be on social media to do it.
Paul so poignantly put it in Romans 14:7, “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.” We are always around other people and we should influence them for God and good.
So how do we influence others? I can think of two ways – by what we say and by what we do. Colossians 4:5-6 puts it this way: “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time (note: that’s what we do). Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one (note: that’s what we say).”
Jesus also referenced His followers as influencers when He compared them to salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt is very influential – it affects everything it comes into contact with. Light penetrates and dispels darkness. If we live and speak as we ought, others will take notice and be influenced.
Our influence as Christians cannot be overemphasized. We have an effect on others. This is illustrated well by the poem “Touching Others” (author unknown).
The slightest breeze that ever blew
Some slender grass has wavered,
The smallest life I ever knew
Some other life has flavored.
We cannot live our lives alone
For other lives we touch
Are either strengthened by our own,
Or weakened just as much.
Let us all be concerned about how we are influencing others – for they are watching and taking note. “Be an example…in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
Edd Sterchi
Broadway church of Christ
Campbellsville, KY