The stewardship of influence

(The following is an edited extract from the sermon that was preached by Michael Larsen on July 29, 2018)

    God expects you to make the most of the things He gives you. The word for that in the Bible is “stewardship.”  Stewardship is the Old English word for “management.” Managers used to be called stewards. When we talk about stewardship we’re talking about the management of your life.  Your opportunities, your relationships, your talents, your resources, your intelligence.  Today I’m going to talk about an area you probably never thought about – the stewardship of your influence.  

    Notice Matthew 5:16.  "Let your light shine so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.” Jesus doesn’t want you to waste your influence.  In another verse in the same chapter He says, I want you to be like salt.  “You are like salt for the whole human race.”  God says, “I want you to use your influence for good.”  In fact, in Jeremiah 15:19 He said, “You are to influence them.  Do not let them influence you."

   The Bible says you can do three things to become a more influential person.

1.  I must recognize my influence.

The truth is everybody has influence. You say, “Who do I influence?” Everybody you come in contact with. You influence your family.  You influence your friends.  You influence your neighbors.  You influence your relatives.  You influence people you go to school with or people you work with. You influence your boyfriend or your girlfriend or your husband or wife.  

The Bible says that God wants you to think about this and be more intentional about your influence.  God wants you to recognize where you could be influence for good.  

Exodus 4:2 “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘What is in your hand?’  ‘  A staff,’ he replied.  God said, ‘Throw it on the ground.’”  That staff represented everything Moses was.  It represented his income, his identity and his influence.

God says, “Moses, if you will give Me your influence, your identity and your income I will empower it.  I’ll make it come alive.  I’ll do miraculous things from it.”  Moses, when he laid it down, he in essence was saying, “God, I am giving You my identity, my income, my influence.”  He lays it down and it becomes something of power.  

   Here’s the point:  because Moses gave what he had in his hand – his identity, his income, his influence – because Moses gave that to God, God used that as a tool to influence history. History was changed because those things were used to influence for good and for God.  And it was never the same again.

   God says if you will give to Me your life, give Me your business, give Me your family, give Me what’s in your hand – your talent, your relationships – give Me your intellect, give Me your freedom, give Me your health, give Me your influence and I will turn it into the rod of God and I will do miracles and I will do wonderful things through you and we will influence history.

2.  I must exercise my influence.

How can I influence people?

   1.  By smiling at people.

Proverbs 15:30“A cheerful look brings joy to the heart.”  

   2.  By sympathizing with people

2 Corinthians 1:4says “God comforts us so that when others have trouble we can comfort them with the same comfort that God gives us.” 

   3.  By serving people.

1 Corinthians 9:19, “Even though I’m free of the expectations of everyone I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people.”  

    4.  By speaking up.

Edmund Burke once said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”  I would say the only thing necessary for our culture to go to hell in a handbag is for Christians to say nothing.  … “I don’t want to offend anybody.”  If you see something wrong, you ought to talk about it.  You ought to stand up for it.  You ought to speak up for it.  Sometimes God puts you right in the middle of a problem at work, home, school, wherever just so you’ll speak up about it.  Proverbs 31:8-9“Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves.  Protect the rights of all who are helpless.  Speak for them and protect the rights of the poor and needy.” 

   5.  By sacrificing.

Hebrews 9:14 "Jesus Christ was sinless.  Yet He offered Himself as an eternal and spiritual sacrifice to God.  That’s why His blood is much more powerful and makes our conscious clear.  Now we can serve the living God and no longer do things that lead to death.”  

3.  I must maximize my influence.

   Ephesians 5:16  “Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.”  “Make the most of your chances to tell unbelievers the good news.  Be wise in all your contacts with them.”  

   One day you are going to stand before God.  That is an appointment you’re not going to be late for. One day you’re going to stand before God.  God is first going to say, “What did you do with My Son, Jesus Christ?  Did you accept Him into your heart?”  Then He’s going to say, “What did you do with what I gave you?”  That’s the question of stewardship.  What did you do with your talent?  your time? your money?  your relationships?  What did you do with the opportunities I gave you?