https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/How-to-Ruin-Your-Influence.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: Luke 14:34-35<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. Your reputation, your ability to influence others is valuable<\/p>\n
A. Ecclesiastes 7:1 – Better than expensive perfume<\/p>\n
B. Proverbs 22:1 – Better than great wealth<\/p>\n
C. Christians are expected to influence the world – Matthew 5:13-16<\/p>\n
D. But if we ruin our ability to influence others, what good are we? – Luke 14:34-35<\/p>\n
II. Inconsistent<\/p>\n
A. If you say one thing but act differently people will notice – Proverbs 26:7<\/p>\n
1. Inconsistent in application: it applies to you, but I have an exemption <\/p>\n
2. Why listen to someone who obviously doesn’t believe it himself?<\/p>\n
B. Inconsistency in life or example <\/p>\n 1. Can a social drinker effectively warn against the dangers of drinking? –\nRomans 2:21\n
2. Ecclesiastes 10:1 – A little folly ruins the reputation of a wise man<\/p>\n 3. The world is eager to catch those who claim to be Christians but do not act\nlike one.\n a. That is why Jim and Tammy Baker, Jimmy Swaggart, and the\nscandals in the Catholic clergy make headlines.\n b. It is the inconsistency of their claims in comparison to their lives\nthat made them targets.\n
III. Unreliable<\/p>\n
A. If you want to ruin your reputation, just fail to be dependable<\/p>\n
1. Don’t always do what you are asked or expected to do<\/p>\n
2. Don’t be responsible. <\/p>\n
a. Don’t take on duties. <\/p>\n
b. Don’t ever go beyond what you have to do.<\/p>\n
3. Don’t be trustworthy. <\/p>\n a. Just because you say you will do something doesn’t mean you will.\n\n
b. Get sidetracked easily.<\/p>\n
c. You can always say “Oh! I forgot!”<\/p>\n
B. Would you hire such a person? Would you marry such a person?<\/p>\n
1. You can’t trust them.<\/p>\n
2. You can’t expect help from them.<\/p>\n
3. You can’t depend on them.<\/p>\n
C. One of the Pharaoh’s of Egypt had such a reputation – II Kings 18:21<\/p>\n D. Proverbs 25:19 – Depending on such a person is a good way to cause yourself\npain.\n E. It was John Mark’s unreliableness that caused Paul to be unwilling to travel with\nhim – Acts 15:38\n 1. It took a lot on Mark’s part to change Paul’s opinion of him – II Timothy\n4:11\n
2. Demas proved unreliable – II Timothy 4:9-10<\/p>\n
IV. Unfriendly<\/p>\n
A. A friend is dependable – Proverbs 17:17<\/p>\n
B. Ruth showed the power of friendship to her mother-in-law – Ruth 1:16<\/p>\n
C. Jesus demonstrated his faithfulness and asks the same of us – John 15:13-14<\/p>\n D. The unfriendly doesn’t care and those who don’t care can’t impact the lives of\nothers.\n
V. Easily angered<\/p>\n
A. Proverbs 22:24-25 – Avoid the angry, else you pick up the habit<\/p>\n
B. Angry people act foolishly – Proverbs 14:17, 29; Ecclesiastes 7:9<\/p>\n
C. Reasonable people don’t want to be around quick tempered people. <\/p>\n
1. You never know when you might be the next victim of their wrath.<\/p>\n
2. Without contact, there is no influence<\/p>\n D. Even when dealing with them, you can’t depend on them to act rationally in\ndifficult situations.\n
VI. Quick to speak<\/p>\n
A. A fool is seen by their talkativeness – Ecclesiastes 5:3<\/p>\n
B. They can cause strife – Proverbs 26:20-22<\/p>\n
C. The complainers – Jude 16<\/p>\n D. The Classmate by C. A. Lugfburrow
\nI shouted aloud and louder
\nWhile out on the plain one day;
\nThe sound grew faint and fainter
\nUntil the words had gone forever,
\nThey left no trace or track,
\nBut the hills near by caught up the cry
\nAnd sent an echo back.
\n
\nI spoke a word in anger
\nTo one who was my friend,
\nLike a knife it cut him deeply,
\nA wound that was hard to mend.
\nThat word, so thoughtlessly uttered,
\nI would we could both forget,
\nBut its echo lives and memory gives
\nThe recollection yet.
\n
\nHow many hearts are broken,
\nHow many friends are lost
\nBy some unkind word spoken
\nBefore we count the cost!
\nBut a word or deed of kindness
\nWill repay a hundredfold,
\nFor it echoes again in the hearts of men
\nAnd carries a joy untold.\n
E. The wise, the influential:<\/p>\n
1. Use few words – Proverbs 10:19-20<\/p>\n
2. Use well chosen words – Proverbs 15:28<\/p>\n
3. Use well seasoned words – Colossians 4:6<\/p>\n
VII. Refuses to accept blame<\/p>\n
A. A fool is right in his own eyes – Proverbs 12:15<\/p>\n B. A man was arrested for collecting his mother’s Social Security checks for six\nyears after his death. Was it his fault? Oh no! He suffered from extreme\nprocrastination behavior cause by depression over his mother’s death.\n C. Your Erroneous Zones by Wayne W. Dryer
\n“All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of\nhow much you blame him, it will not change you. The only thing blame does is to keep the focus\noff you when you are looking for external reasons to explain your unhappiness and frustration.\nYou may succeed in making another feel guilty of something by blaming him, but you won’t\nsucceed in changing whatever it is about you that is making you unhappy.”\n
D. The wise changes, the fool continues – Proverbs 14:16<\/p>\n E. Who wants to listen to someone who refuses to accept responsibility for his own\nchoices?\nVIII. My Life, author unknown
\nMy life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done;
\nLeave countless marks for good or ill, er sets the evening sun.
\nThis is the wish I always wish, the prayer I always pray;
\nLord, may my life help other lives it touches by the way.\n
A. You are the light of God in a dark world<\/p>\n
B. You are the salt that gives meaning to life. <\/p>\n
C. Have you ruined your salt? Are you worth something to God?<\/p>\n
\n
Based on a lesson by Wayne Greeson<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 14:34-35 I. Your reputation, your ability to influence others is valuable A. Ecclesiastes 7:1 – Better than expensive perfume B. Proverbs 22:1 – Better than great wealth C. Christians are expected to influence the world – Matthew 5:13-16 D. But if we ruin our ability to influence others, what good are we? –…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[1503,1040,1337,233,353,551,354],"class_list":["post-35170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-anger","tag-consistency","tag-dependable","tag-friends","tag-influence","tag-reputation","tag-responsibility"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":44285,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-to-ruin-our-influence\/","url_meta":{"origin":35170,"position":0},"title":"How to Ruin Our Influence","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 11, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"by Raymond Warfel","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":47404,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/have-you-forgotten-who-you-are\/","url_meta":{"origin":35170,"position":1},"title":"Have You Forgotten Who You Are?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Raymond Warfel","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":64554,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/your-influence-on-the-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":35170,"position":2},"title":"Your Influence on the World","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"by Andrew Long","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":62781,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/influence-and-evangelism\/","url_meta":{"origin":35170,"position":3},"title":"Influence and Evangelism","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 17, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"by Taylor Ladd April 17-20, 2011 God's Captivated Captives Learning to See Souls The Purpose of Our Calling Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind Tactics for Defending Our Faith","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/teachingMoments-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":35167,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/exactly-who-is-influencing-who\/","url_meta":{"origin":35170,"position":4},"title":"Exactly Who is Influencing Who?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 9, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Chronicles 13:4-12 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Most Americans tend to have an independent streak. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We would like to think that we think for ourselves. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As Christians, we aim to influence those around to do good. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But influence is not a one-way street. II.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Our thoughts are shaped by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61531,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/notes-on-influence\/","url_meta":{"origin":35170,"position":5},"title":"Notes on Influence","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 25, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Genesis 5:3 - The influence of a father on his son Exodus 23:2 - Following a crowd is not an excuse for evil behavior Deuteronomy 12:29-32 - Do not let culture influence your religious beliefs Deuteronomy 18:9-12 - Do not let culture influence your religious beliefs I Kings 11:1-8 -\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Notes","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35170\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}