1 Timothy 4:16
“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
Influence is defined as the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone. Everyone has influence on someone, and nobody knows the amount of influence they have. Sadly, you never learn someone’s influence until they do something wrong or they pass away; however, the fingers of influence always go deeper than anyone can imagine.
The Apostle Paul cautioned young Timothy about his influence. What is interesting in his caution about influence is that Paul said that we not only influence others, but we also influence ourselves. In his caution to Timothy about influence, he tells him that there are three areas in which he must be extremely careful to protect his influence from becoming a wrong influence.
First, Paul cautioned Timothy to be careful how he lived. He says, “Take heed unto thyself…” How you live will influence what you become and what you lead others to do. One of the common statements I make is that you must always think about the next generation with every decision you make. The way you live may not cause you to go into sin or compromise truth, but it may cause the next generation who follows you to sin or compromise.
You must realize that someone is watching you all the time. When you think you are alone, someone is still watching. Moreover, even if nobody were watching you, what you do in your private life is influencing you to become something in the future. You must be very careful with how you live so that your influence will not lead others down the wrong path.
Second, Paul cautioned Timothy to be careful with what he believed. He says, “Take heed…unto the doctrine…” Many people have doctrinally changed throughout the years and influenced others to go down a wrong path. Friend, be careful whom and what you read. Let the Word of God be your final authority on everything. If you read a book that presents something new, don’t immediately jump on the bandwagon until you study the Scriptures. I like what one preacher told me years ago, he said if you hear something that causes you to raise an eyebrow, then you’re probably listening to something that raises God’s eyebrow.
Third, Paul cautioned Timothy to be faithful. He says, “…continue in them…” Your faithfulness to what you believe and to living what you believe is imperative to your influence. To say you believe something but to live a life contrary to what you believe only influences people to copy what you live. People will always follow your last act. You must be careful that your last act won’t influence someone to do wrong.
Christian, don’t ever forget that you have an influence on someone. These three areas where Paul cautioned Timothy are critical to protecting your influence. Don’t let your influence lead someone to do wrong, but let your influence be positive for the sake of Christ. Always remember that everything you do is your last act, and people will always follow your last act.