The Key to Right Influences
Psalm 101:6
“Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.”
Having the right influences is so vital to your future. We often tell young people to make sure they have the right influences, but it is just as important for adults to have the right influences as well. One of my common conversations I have with people about whether they should attend a certain church is to determine who is influencing the pastor of the church. My reasoning for this is because if a person is being influenced by someone, then they will eventually become like them.
Psalm 101 shows us the key to having the right influences. The psalmist starts the psalm out by talking about singing to the LORD. The reason a person can sing to the LORD is because they are doing the right things. But, the psalmist then shows us the keys to keeping your influences right so you will have a right attitude towards God.
First, do right in private. Verse 2 says, “…I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” Many people allow things to influence them in the privacy of their home that they won’t allow to influence them in public. Your home life will eventually become your public life. It is important that you keep the right influences in your home. If there is something in your home that you would not want your preacher to see, then I would imagine it would be worth you removing its influence from your life.
Second, guard what you see. Verse 3 says, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:…” What you see will eventually become what you do. What you watch on television will eventually become what you live in your home. What you look at on the internet or in magazines is eventually what you will do in your private life. Your eyes affect your heart, and your heart affects your actions. Don’t allow yourself to watch things on television that will influence you in the wrong way. Only allow your eyes to see the things that you would not be ashamed to show to Christ.
Third, keep right friendships. Verse 4 says, “…I will not know a wicked person.” Many people have changed because of wrong friends. You should only have one set of friends. Those friends should be people with whom you serve the LORD. I have found that my friends will influence me for good or bad. You should be very choosy about whom you allow to be your friends. If someone is of questionable character, then you would be wise to not allow them to influence you.
Your influences are important, for they will determine where you will eventually end up. I encourage you to examine your influences and make sure they are the types of influences that will pull you closer to Christ. All it takes in one wrong influence to hurt you. Make sure that every influence in your life is a positive influence of spirituality.