Jesus On Influence
Influence.
We all want it.
There is an entire genre of books and such set aside for it.
And when we don’t get it, have it, or miss it, we head over to Applebee’s and throw down some babyback ribs along with some really cheap beer waiting for it to slowly kill us.
But let’s look at the life of Jesus for a second.
He was passed up by every influential leader of his time.
Every. Single. One.
Jesus did not set out to become an influential leader by getting other influential leaders to fall in love with him.
He set out to see people rescued from the grip of death.
And lives changed was the base of his influence.
Not the words of another.
So while others can surely help you gain influence, that is not the sort of influence you want.
Influence based on lives changed is what you want.
So quit looking for that retweet, that endorsement, that conference slot.
That is not the way Jesus built His influence.
And dare I say that is not the way we should build ours.
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
I would add that Jesus mostly influenced by what he did, not by what he was trying to be. He influenced by loving– by giving himself away. We all could learn something from that.
Yup
I got slightly excited when you replied to my comment. Ironic?
lol
right on statement
I have been working on my masters in Strategic Leadership online and we just got done reading about Mother Teresa. She acted much in the same way. She didn’t want attention. She wanted to be effective for Christ.
Just blogged this very issue last night. In Acts 6 when the church was literally making things up as they went, the first issue that popped up was care for widows. The apostles elevated seven to handle this problem because they couldn’t be bothered with “waiting tables.” The 7 who were elevated had been faithful servants. They were elevated for serving. Too many of us today are serving for the purposes of being elevated. We give to get. Which is why everyone wants to lead worship but nobody wants to change diapers or open doors.
Amen! Jesus’ influence is based on physical change, not happy feelings.
As for me, I’m cool with anonymity. As long as my statue is overlooking water.
I love the perspective! The world compels us to serve self. Jesus’ love for us compels us to serve others.
Love it! Thanks.
Kiss Nashboro for me.
Jesus surely knew the futility of seeking approval from his society’s influential leaders, especially with the work he needed to do. If only I could foster such a single-minded focus on the path laid out for me.
Well said, Los.
The problem is, in order for that “influence” to persist, we have to continually avoid the getting caught up in our notoriety, even when we really do become notable. And that’s hard, because notoriety can seem so attractive.
Oh, what you say meets me exactly where I am! I want to live for Christ with all that I am, and for His power to have great influence through me, but I get stuck on the Is and ams of all these things. My desires are not perfect — I know that He is my only ticket to being useful and having an inflience that is positive, but I still treat Him like my ticket more than the world’s Savior who is willing to use me to get His Word out.
This is one of the greatest areas where I think we can allow Jesus to transform our hearts. When we truly are only concerned about how He thinks of us, versus others, then we allow him to use us for His influence in ways we could not even begin to imagine.
True. Ben Arment made a great post about the cost of influence on his blog http://www.benarment.com/history_in_the_making/2011/03/new-spheres-of-influence.html
Jesus preached to thousands, but we seem to remember more the things he did when he was one-on-one with someone. We remember when he touched a man who was diseased and the man was healed. We remember Jesus talking to the woman at the well, or when Jesus talked to the women who was caught in adultery. He ate with tax collectors and washed people’s feet. He also spent plenty of time alone talking with the Father.
Nail on the head. Influence from changed lives and the Gospel, not from getting people to love us all the time.
Oh dude, I need to upload and send you our picture from worship in Costa Mesa. Good meeting you finally!
Exactly. It seems much of our desire for influence is actually for respect. Influence is focused on others. Respect is self-focused.
I for one have been motivated to help someone based on how a third party would view it.
Darn.
Lord give me Jesus-like influence: caring for the highest good of the one influenced without regard for my personal ego.
a few of us were discussing influence yesterday…appreciate your wise perspective on it
I agree with the post in terms of our pursuit. Jesus ministry was never about the pursuit of influence, it was always about the pursuit of the soul. I would also say WOAH to being intoxicated by what influence, specifically in ‘Christianland’, brings along with it. We can easily miss the point of what we’re after if it becomes all about what ‘influence’ I either have or don’t have.
Jesus passed by the influential folk because in the end they weren’t critical to His ultimate mission. Great lesson.
The beautiful thing about Jesus is that He gained influence as He loved so radically. Do you think Jesus knew He was influential though?
Yup. And ouch.
“Jesus did not set out to become an influential leader by getting other influential leaders to fall in love with him.”
That is a ridiulously true and profound statment that us leaders would do well to recite daily.
Jesus was influential in the things that matter not the things that fade.
another thing.
It’s kinda like those people who come up for prayer but have an eye open waiting to see if the pastor is coming towards them and once he does then they “really” pray.
perfect song in that case: HE TOUCHED ME
First time I’ve been here. Glad I came. Appreciate the straight up talk.
Yes!
Reminds me of Jesus’ words, “How can you believe if you seek the praise of men but make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from God?”
We run on praise like Jolt cola, don’t we? Chug, buzz, crash. Chug, buzz, crash.
dang, this is so so good.
i know i am often guilty of chasing influence rather than focusing on pointing people toward Christ. :: ouch ::
If I was honest, I think I would prefer all the RT’s to simply doing God’s will. The craving of validation. You’re right, though. Success should be measured not by what people say of us but by how many changed lives are standing behind us. Help me, God.
Thank you for posting this. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
I once told someone that the best ROI is LIFE CHANGE. Not status, not RTs, but LIFE CHANGE.
they answered “how do you monetize that?”
That’s awesome, Los.
“lives changed was the base of his influence.
Not the words of another”
Preach on!