Stewarding influence

When we think of stewardship, most of us probably think of money. That’s understandable, because most of the time when preachers preach on stewardship, money is the only application given. They don’t always mention other things like time, or talents, or resources.

Or influence.

Have you ever considered that you have influence? That someone is watching your life right now and studying what you do, how you process circumstances, and what you say. Everyone has influence. Granted, some have larger spheres of influence than others – I’m not going to influence as many people as the POTUS or Beyonce – but all of us have a sphere of influence. I want to challenge you to steward that influence wisely.

There’s a small verse in the middle of a crazy story in Genesis 19 that really drives home the danger of not stewarding influence well. Abraham has just finished a back and forth with God over the fate of Sodom and God has agreed to spare the city if there are 10 righteous people in it. Apparently, there weren’t even 10 because a chapter later, Sodom is in the middle of some apocalyptic crosshairs and angels are sent to Lot in order to get him – and his family – out.

In verse 12, the angels tell Lot to warn any family members – specifically his future sons-in law – about the coming danger. When he does, verse 14 says that they ignored him because they thought he was joking.

Think about that for a minute. At the most critical time, when Lot shared the most critical message, they ignored it. Why? If we study Lot’s life, he had blended in with the whole Sodom scene and had lost his influence. His failure to steward his influence cost those men their lives.

We’ve been given a message for our culture, and how we live our lives – how we steward the influence we’ve been given – will determine whether or not our culture listens when we share it. This reality should begin to impact the choices that we make, right?

Should I post that?

Should I wear that?

Say that? Drink that?

These aren’t questions about freedom, because we can all post, wear, say, and drink whatever we want. These are questions of influence. Who am I influencing and how will my freedom affect them?

If Lot had considered the outcome of his life from the standpoint of influence, things may have turned out very differently for his future sons-in-law.

Everyone has influence, but only the wisest steward in well.

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise…” (Ephesians 5:15)

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