INFLUENCE in business, life and spirit.
Romans 4:1-11,15-17
I don’t know why, but the topic of INFLUENCE has been coming up a lot in my conversations lately. Specifically, about who are the most influential people and why are they so?
In one of my conversations, we discussed the difference between INFLUENCE and IMPACT and whether we, as leaders, should prefer to work from one position over the other. We decided that “influence” was preferred, but sometimes we need to be more direct and “impact”.
INFLUENCE, as defined by Dictionary.com is “the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others”. It’s the process of effecting change in a gentle and sometimes collaborative way. When we influence people, we often are not seeking to control them or the outcome.
IMPACT is a bit different. Dictionary.com defines the verb sense of the word as “to drive or press closely or firmly into something”. Impact is more forceful and has the intention of quickly driving for an outcome or control.
Leaders that choose to influence over impact can generally be regarded as highly collaborative and maybe even more patient. Impactful leaders, however, might be seen as less patient and task-oriented as they drive for expected results.
I lay that context with the desire to take you into a line of thinking based on your experience. No doubt there have been people in your life (from cradle to present) that have been an influence on you. They may be teachers, mentors, friends, family members, or others that have taken time to share their thoughts and invest in you in ways that led to changing your behaviours and/or perspectives on things.
Whether in Business, Life, or Spiritual directions, we all have had influencers that have come along and helped shape our decisions. Some positive and maybe some negative.
The ways we act individually and interact with others is often the result of these influences over a lifetime.
Pause for a moment and answer this question…
Q: Who, specifically, has been instrumental in influencing the kind of life you are practicing today, and why?
Here’s another thought… sometimes the decisions of past generations can influence family decisions long into future generations. For instance, the decision of my great grandfather many years ago to move from Italy to the United States has had a direct influence on where our families have since lived and worked.
I have no doubt that the Christian faith perspectives that I embrace today were all been part of the decisions and upbringings made from many generations previous to me.
Reading today’s scripture, we see Paul explaining the influence Abraham’s faith has had on future generations of Jews and Gentiles. We read how Abraham’s faith example resulted in adding many to the family of believers.
Verses 1-3 (NLT) says, “Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
And then later we read how his decision led to many Jews and Gentiles accepting the faith because of his faith! He influenced many generations by acting faithfully.
So, let me ask another question…
Q: Who has most impacted your faith and why?
For me, it has been several people… My uncle. Some friends. My pastor. And all for different reasons.
As we accept the idea that many have influenced us, we should also accept that we also have the ability to influence others.
Final question…
Q: Who are you influencing in the faith?
God’s plan is that we influence our world (those entrusted to us) for Him.
Do you count it a privilege when God puts other people of influence in your path so you may also influence them? (Matthew 5:16)
This starts by:
Offering the same GRACE to others that God offers them. If not, we run the risk of treating them legalistically and as “rule-breakers”, withholding our acceptance and love as punishment. Using our position in Christ as a way of creating a hierarchy, or “status” is not what Christ intended for us to do.
When God extends GRACE to someone else, He may choose to put that person in our path so we can become the physical representation of Himself.
We all have people close to us that form our “circle of influence”. Let’s strive to be aware who has also included us in their circle, and be faithful to be a positive influence in God’s calling for them as well.
My Prayer:
God, I thank you for this message today. I confess I don’t often consider you have put others in my path so I can be an influence and example of your goodness and grace. I ask that you open my eyes to see them more clearly. May I act faithfully with those you have entrusted to me. Thank you for those you sent to be my influences in the past and today.
Amen.
Blessings as Always!
Steve Shrout
President, Corpath Forums
Email: president@corpath.ca
"Pursuing Excellence in Business, Life and Spirit"
Special Note:
If you enjoyed today’s message, then share it with someone. Also, use this content and questions as a discussion guide in your next Forum Group meeting.
Attached to this is a printable PDF you can use to help with your meditation and reflection. I encourage you to print it, answer the questions and then keep it in a Corpath binder or folder for future reference and thought. You will receive a new PDF each week with each new Monday Meditation, and, over time, your binder will become a book representing your Corpath journey of BUSINESS thoughts, personal LIFE development, and SPIRITUAL growth.
