Part 5: What Will People Say About You?

Acts 20:29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

It has been said that if you want to steward your influence correctly then you should fast forward your life to your funeral and think carefully what you would want people to say about you. If you want people to say, “He had a lot of money” then cheat, steal, save, or do whatever you have to do to acquire money. If you want people to say, “He was a jerk” then keep treating people poorly. However, if you want one person to say, “He pointed me to Jesus” then you better start pointing people right now. Considering the end gives us insight on our present.

Influence is sometimes incidental. Parents witness their children picking up certain traits that were not intentionally taught. However, when you desire to pass on specific information or convictions, that influence requires intentionality on your behalf. Realizing that life offers us limited time on this side of eternity must cause you to strive to create lasting influence by strategically demonstrating the convictions that matter most to you. You have a limited time to make lasting influence; steward it well.

Today’s Challenge: Ask yourself this question: Do people understand why I do what I do? Do they think I am committed to a religious routine or do they realize I am engaged in an active relationship with Jesus? Pray and ask God today to show you how to create lasting influence with the limited time you are given. Live in a way that continues to witness to others long after our time is over.
Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days.”