Every day, millions of influencers get on their social media channels and post videos and other messages that impact the lives of their billions of combined followers. While you may not have that kind of reach, you’re still an influencer! As a child of God, you have the power to share the hope that lives within you with all of those around you. Understanding the platforms that you have and how to use them is crucial to your desire to be an influencer for Christ.
According to studies, there are roughly 37.8 million influencers around the world. Influencers, a title that came into popularity with the boom in social media, are often well-paid individuals who earn sponsorships from major companies for pushing their brand to the billions of combined followers/readers/viewers that they’ve picked up. Some of the most successful influencers in the world make more than $250,000 per year, just for posting videos, blogs, and other forms of media on behalf of the brands who sponsor them!
You may not have thousands of Facebook friends, and there’s no guarantee that millions of people see your Instagram posts. When you Tweet, it may not go out to the masses. However, you’re still an influencer. When you accept Christ as your Savior, you become an influencer of others. When He was calling fishermen to be His disciples, He informed them that they would become “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).
In today’s social media age, it would be safe to say that Christ would say that He is calling His disciples to be “influencers of others.” Your role as an influencer isn’t contingent on followers and likes. Instead, it simply depends on your willingness.
Being an Influencer at Work
Galatians 5:22-23 (TPT)
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.
Most workplaces have rules in place that prohibit employees from evangelizing coworkers, customers, and clients. While there is nothing wrong with policies like this (as they do tend to cut down on arguments and other issues that can stem from conversations regarding religion), it’s important to note that there are no policies that prohibit you from influencing others through your behavior.
The passage of Scripture that we just read is referred to as the Fruits of the Spirit. These behaviors don’t require a lot of words, and they certainly don’t require you to violate any workplace rules about discussing religion in the workplace. Instead, when you display these traits, others will automatically wonder how you’re able to have “peace that subdues” or “joy that overflows,” even in the midst of the chaos that can be a part of all of our workdays.
Saint Francis of Assisi is quoted with saying, “Preach the Gospel; use words if necessary.” When you allow the fruits of the Spirit to be active in your life, it’s not always necessary to use words. Instead, others around you will take note of something different in your life and will be drawn to ask their own questions. Regardless of how many people you work with, displaying these Godly traits is a great way to be an influencer to those around you.
Being an Influencer at Home
Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV)
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.\
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as it fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Even after your workday is done, your time as an influencer isn’t over. The people in your home are perhaps the most influenced by your behaviors. It’s also important to note that being an influencer isn’t just about evangelizing the unsaved around you. It can also be about encouraging other believers around you, including those in your own home.
Our words are one of the most powerful tools that we have access to. According to Scripture, our words can either build up the people around us or they can destroy them. Solomon said that “the power of life and death is in the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).
Verbally, how do you respond to the people in your home? When your spouse comes home from work, and his or her day has been just as stressful as yours, do you lash out at the first opportunity? Or do you practice the fruits of the Spirit that we just discussed and exhibit patience? When your children need to be at an extracurricular activity have a mountain of homework to do, and they don’t seem interested in doing any of it, do you lose your temper, or do you use your words “for building up?”
It’s a great responsibility to be an influencer in your own home, but the fact remains that all of us are tasked with it. When you have others in your home, especially children, it’s your responsibility to influence them for good.
Being an Influencer on Social Media
Acts 27:23-24 (ESV)
For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
In this verse, Paul was trapped on a prison ship (for preaching the Gospel) with a group of other prisoners who were being sent to Rome. While the ship was caught up in a storm, most of the people on board assumed that the ship was going to sink, and they would all be lost at sea. However, the angel of the Lord appeared to Paul and not only told him that they would survive, but also reminded him that God had given him the opportunity to minister to everyone on the ship.
While you may not have thousands of people waiting for you to endorse a product on your social media channels, the fact remains that God has given you the ability to spread His Gospel to the people that you interact with on the biggest platform that the world has ever seen.
Can you imagine if Paul had social media? The man who planted churches all over the world and sent letters from prison to make sure that they were operating correctly, would have certainly taken advantage of the fact to share the love of God with people on his Facebook page.
The way that you use your influence on social media can take on a variety of forms. It doesn’t mean that you have to post Bible verses all day every day. Perhaps you can just respond to someone who is going through a rough time with an encouraging word. Maybe instead of arguing with someone who is looking for attention, you could simply show the love of God and wish them well.
All of us have influence. No, we may not have the kind of influence that people with millions of followers have, but our influence is real, nonetheless. It’s up to us to determine how we will use it.
A Closing Prayer:
God, I want to be a display of Your love to every person that I come in contact with. Whether it’s at home, at work, or even online, help me to show people Your goodness in every word I say and everything I do. I know that You have given me a sphere of influence, and I want to use it for Your Kingdom. In Christ’s name, Amen.