Influence Is Important … A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold. Prov 22:1 (NKJV) A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one's birth; Eccl 7:1 (NKJV) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matt 5:16 (NKJV) Philippians 2:14-16

What if you ruin your influence? "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Luke 14:34-35 (NKJV)  Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 1 Tim 6:1 (NKJV) Cf. 1 Pet. 3:15-16; 1-2

How to Uphold a Good Influence Prov. 22:1; Matt. 5:13-16

Be Consistent Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. Eccl 10:1 (NKJV) Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do Matt 23:3 (NKJV) And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Romans 2:3 (NKJV) Cf. Jas. 2:1-12; 1 Cor. 5; Rom. 2:19-23

Be Reliable How do people respond to someone that is unreliable? They do not… Trust them. Listen to them. Ask them to do a job. Give them responsibility. Depend on what they say. Get positively influenced by them. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint. Prov 25:19 (NKJV)

Be Friendly One is unfriendly when they are discourteous (Prov. 25:21-22; Rom. 12:18-21). One is unfriendly when they don’t care about another’s circumstances (Gal. 6:1-2; Ps. 35:14-15). If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it. Ex 23:4-5 (NKJV)

Be Friendly Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. Prov 11:13 (ESV) A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity. Prov 17:17 (ASV) Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you. Prov 25:17 (ESV) He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him. Prov 27:14 (NKJV)

Be Even Tempered Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools. Eccl 7:9 (NKJV) Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, Prov 22:24 (NKJV) A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions is hated. Prov 14:17 (NKJV) Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. Prov 14:29 (ESV)

Be Even Tempered A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. Prov 19:19 (NKJV) A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression. Prov 29:22 (ESV) for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. James 1:20 (ASV) A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. Prov 27:3 (ESV)

Be Even Tempered For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money Titus 1:7 (NKJV) A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. Prov 15:18 (ESV) The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. Prov 17:14 (NKJV)

Be Even Tempered Scoffers set a city aflame, But wise men turn away wrath. Prov 29:8 (NKJV) For as the churning of milk produces butter, And wringing the nose produces blood, So the forcing of wrath produces strife. Prov 30:33 (NKJV) Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools. Eccl 7:9 (NKJV)

Be Discreet In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. Prov 10:19 (NKJV) A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. 7  A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. Prov 18:6-7 (ESV) For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool's voice is known by his many words. Eccl 5:3 (NKJV)

Be Discreet For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. 21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22  The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. Prov 26:20-22 (ESV) Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. Prov 27:2 (NKJV) These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. Jude 1:16 (ESV)

Be Discreet In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little. Prov 10:19-20 (NKJV) The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. Prov 15:28 (ESV) Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Col 4:6 (ESV)

How to Uphold a Good Influence We all Have Influence. The First Step Toward Improved Influence Is to Obey the Gospel. Will You Be a Christian Today?