The Power of Influence

Phil Wismer

In these busy and stress filled times; in a world characterized by rapidly deteriorating moral standards, it would be well for us to fully appreciate that we can and are continually influencing others. “No man liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself” (Romans 14:7). No matter what our station in life may be, we are influencing someone else. We can either lead them to a higher and better life, or we can lead them downward.  Many who we may scarcely know and never think of as being affected by our “manner of life” nevertheless are. This realization should motivate in each of us some sobering and serious thinking.

We can no more prevent what we are, what we do and what we say from influencing all we contact than we can prevent our bodies from throwing a shadow in the sunshine.  Our conduct, our conversation reflects the things we are most interested in.  If our interests are in things pure, things healthful, these are the things we do and talk about and will to some extent, at least, promote in others a desire to participate in the more wholesome things in life.

We, as parents, should realize the influence we exert over our families.  The younger parents especially should recognize how quickly children can detect any defects or deceits in our lives and perhaps lose respect for us and the better things of life.  Most parents like to have their children attend bible study regularly, but are themselves often careless about regular attendance at the worship services.  The children usually attend until young adulthood and then just stop.  Why?  Were they not influenced by the parental indifference?  Who do you think may be held responsible for these children going out into the world without God, without Christ, without a hope beyond this life?

There are so many examples in the Bible of the lasting impressions for good and for evil that parents pass on to their children.  Paul reminds Timothy of the “unfeigned faith that is in thee:  which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice” (2 Timothy 1:5).

Yes, influence is a most powerful thing; it never dies.  True, when physical death comes to each one of us, our opportunities to be examples are past, but our “works” still speak.  We read, “Abel…he being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4).