THE POWER OF INFLUENCE (9).
WISDOM FOR TODAY.
THE POWER OF INFLUENCE (9).
Scripture Treasure.
Jer 9:4 Beware of your friends; do not trust anyone in your clan. For every one of them is a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer.
Insight and Highlight.
Jer 9:5 Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning.
Scripture Commentaries.
Not everyone is a good influencer. A good influencer has very little to do with age, sibling relationships, friendship, parenting, etc .
While it remains true that parents can rightly advice, Prov 23:22-25, friends can rightly advice, Prov 18:24, 1 Sam 20, and siblings can be good role models just as Andrew introduced Simon Peter to Jesus, John 1:40–42, Joseph's influence on Benjamin, Gen 45, it also remains true that any of them can fall short of good influence.
Let us closely look at each.
A parent can wrongly advise you. Rebecca, mother of Jacob, advised him to deceive Isaac, his father, Gen 27:6-17.
Joseph's brothers deceived their father, Gen 37: 31-36.
A friend can wrongly advise. Jonadab, a friend of Amnon, advised Amnon to deceive Amnon to rape Tamar, his brother Absalom' sister, 2 Sam 13.
A sibling can wrongly persuade, deceive , advise, or kill, Matt 10:21, Luke 21:16-18. Jacob, knowing the importance of the birthright, asked Esau to sell it to him, Gen 26: 29-34.
Having looked at the good and bad sides of each, God affirming character in each category is a pointer to God-fearing influencers who will seek to promote righteous advice.
God fearing counselors are the best influencers and advisers.
Only the one whom God teaches His ways can best advise you!
Psalm 25:12, 14 says
What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose
The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Jer 9:15 says, "The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
If you want you to be head, do not open doors to bad influence.
Remorse corner.
Does the one whom you trust as an adviser or influencer trust or fear God?
Call to Word action.
The acid test is the relationship with God, not relationship with friends or relations.
The Christian clarion duty.
Look beyond flesh and blood, Let the Spirit guide you.
Prayer.
Lord, help me to influence people to greatness, in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day.
God bless you.