The Impact Of Influence

The Impact of Influence

In his book Game Plan for Life, three-time Super Bowl and NASCAR champion Coach Joe Gibbs says, “I’ve come to realize that despite everything nice that’s come with my career . . . the most important thing Pat and I are going to leave on this earth is the influence, good or bad, we’ve had on others.”^a

Coach Gibbs brings up a few points we should consider:

1. We have influence . . . the ability to direct and inform others.
2. Influence will be positive or negative. It is never neutral.
3. What we do with our influence is our legacy.

If Coach Gibbs is right, then we all have some sort of influence. If I understand the Scriptures correctly, we will be called to give an account of our influence. As a husband, father, and pastor, I try to influence others to discover Christ and his plan for their lives. I challenge them to develop in their faith and deploy their influence for God’s purpose and glory.

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?” (NIV). We have been given the responsibility to influence those around us.

In Matthew 25, we see two different responses to the master’s inquiry when he comes to inspect what his servants have done with what they have been given. To the first servant, who fulfilled his responsibility, the master says, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (verse 23, NIV). To the servant who did nothing with what he’d been given, the master says, “You wicked, lazy servant!” (verse 26, NIV).

What will you hear when you are called to give an account of your stewardship of influence?

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?

Matthew 5:13, NIV