Influencers

                                               

Aloha Dearest Family,

                Lately, I’m seeing more and more people who refer to themselves as “influencers”. By definition, this is a person who is regarded as an expert in their particular field, who also has a following. People trust their opinions and the products they endorse carry considerable weight. In the social media world, anyone that has a blog or a podcast can be considered an influencer and their followers trust whatever they say. BUT you must be confidant that what they say is CORRECT. If it is not, this could have disastrous results on their followers.

                Good parents are always on the lookout for bad influences that affect their children. Whether it be what TV programs they watch, what they are taught in school, the type of language they hear and even what friends they hang around with. From an early age, these parents have spent years instructing them what they should do and what they should not do. Every parent wants their child to follow their instructions, even when they are not around. This is why good parents are always on the lookout for what or who will be an influence on their child. As a parent myself, I know how easily children can be swayed to listen to someone else and forget about all of the proper instruction that they have received.

                The Bible says tons about raising children. The book of Proverbs, for example, gives us instruction on this very topic. 

                “My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul; let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit (the grave); we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; cast lots with us (choose to hang with us); we will all share the loot”—  (Proverbs 1:10-14 NIV)

Any father will give the same words of instruction to their sons. Do not associate with those who want to cause mischief.

                “My son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood…. (For in reality) These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.” (Verses 15-19) 

In the ancient East, every boy was required to know these sections from Proverbs. They were not only required to follow their father’s instructions but also God’s commandments. We should do the same. This is why parents are constantly on the lookout for ANY influences that may be questionable. This is necessary if we want to raise children to be successful adults who will be a blessing to others and not a curse.

                Fortunately, God has given to us plenty of examples of what TO do and also what NOT to do.  

 Israel

                When the children of Israel conquered the Promised Land, God instructed them to cast out the inhabitants of the land that lived there. God knew that if they did not, Israel would be influenced to follow the ungodly practices of these people. These people that were allowed to stay, would be to Israel, like thorns in their sides.

                 “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.” (Numbers 33:55) 

If you study the history of Israel, you will find that this is exactly what they did. The inhabitants were allowed to stay and Israel started worshipping the god’s of the people of the land. In time they started to sacrifice their own children on the altar of these god’s.

 Solomon

                King Solomon is another example of what NOT to do. Because of God’s wonderful grace on the house of David, his son Solomon became the wisest and richest man who ever lived. But Solomon married many wives who worshipped other god’s and, in turn, he himself started worshipping these god’s.

                 “King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.” (I Kings 11:1-4)

Because of this, Solomon’s son would reign over a divided kingdom.

 Joshua

                When God commanded Joshua to cross over the Jordan river and conquer the Promised Land, He instructed him…

                 “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:5-7)         

God told Joshua that He would cause him to be successful IF he obeyed the Law of Moses, meditated in it and did not turn from it from the right or to the left. This is a figure of speech that means to keep your eyes ONLY of God’s words and not be distracted by any other influences. This is the same type of promise God made later to Israel and to Solomon. But Joshua DID obey all of God’s law and God caused him to be very successful. Joshua was the one who famously stated, “..Choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15) Joshua didn’t care who the people chose to serve (their decision would not affect him). BUT he and his household would serve the Lord God of Israel. God was his biggest influence. 

                This is a great lesson for all of us. First, for parents who are endeavoring to raise children to love God; basically, a child’s ONLY job is to OBEY. We teach them to obey US so that one day they will know how to obey God (If a child will not obey us, he will not obey God) and we constantly watch for bad influences and steer them clear of them.

“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character” (I Corinthians 15:33 NIV).

                Second, we each need to be aware of influences that are not Godly. Our measurement is God’s Word. If it does not line up with The Word, IT IS WRONG. Let’s let God’s Word be our greater influencer. When we meditate in His Word, God promises us great success in all that we do.

                 “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law, day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3) 

                       Love Always, Ray