Every Christian is a steward for God. A steward has charge over the tasks or things for his master. Our master is God and we have a responsibility to influence others for Him. We all influence someone. Influence is the capacity to affect the character, development, or behavior of someone. Depending on our character, we can be a good influence or a bad one.
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus tells us what kind of influence we are to be, and how powerful that influence can be. In Matthew 5:13, we are to be the salt of the earth. We are to be the preserving factor of this earth. Salt is used to cure meat which keeps it from decaying. Salt also stimulates thirst. Our lives should be so in tune with Christ we stimulate a desire for God. Christians are to live lives that keep the world from total moral corruption through our prayers and our influence. However, if we are not living a life consistent with the teachings of the Bible, we will be like salt that has lost its savor and our influence will be negative for Christ, not positive. Our influence will be “good for nothing.”
Matthew 5:13 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
In our next analogy, Jesus said we are to be the light of the world. The purpose of a light is to shine. It reveals what is in its path. Light gives direction. In the darkness, even a small light can be seen a long way. If a candle is enclosed and cut off from the elements around it, it will begin to flicker, and unless it is exposed to the elements of oxygen it will go out. We are to be a light that shines bright, so all can see Christ. We are to shine wherever we are, but we will shine the brightest when we are among those who are in darkness. It is our responsibility to win those who are in the darkness. To be a good steward of the opportunity to influence others.
Matthew 5:14-16 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Jesus again in Matthew 13:33, uses an inanimate object of everyday life, as an illustration of how we should represent Him. This time he uses the word leaven, which is a lump of yeast. It doesn’t take much yeast to make bread rise to triple its original size. The amazing thing about yeast is how powerful it is. The things in life we tend to avoid are the things that make yeast activate to its maximum. These are heat, pressure, and time. When making bread, you place one-fourth an ounce of yeast, in one-fourth cup of warm water. It must be warm, not cold water, to activate the yeast. The next thing I took note of was the tiny amount of yeast compared to the 3.5 cups of flour, plus all the other ingredients. The yeast and the salt were of the smallest proportions in the recipe. Yet, they made the most difference in the outcome of the rolls. Without the yeast, the rolls would be flat and very dense, making the texture unpalatable to the taste. Without the salt, they would be bland and inedible. Next, the dough would need pressure applied. Kneading the dough is a process of applying pressure. It is folding the dough over and over until it is of a smooth consistency. Then the element of time is introduced. The bread must sit in a warm place to rise. When the bread triples in size, you again apply pressure. You punch the dough down until the air is released, just so it can rise all over again. This repeat will allow the dough to rise higher and be delicious in taste and texture.
Matthew 13:33 “Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”
From the yeast, we can understand that we are to be an influence that encourages change and growth for those around us. There will be times that we feel “the heat,” and “pressure,” of standing for Christ. We may become impatient when the time we think is needed to influence change is longer than we expect. Don’t grow weary, because one Christian standing firm for Christ and His righteousness, can make a huge difference in those around them. They will influence both believers and non-believers.
If we want to be a good steward in the area of influence, we must be salty, bright, and growing. Our lives must be lived in public where our light will shine the brightest. It must be salty to entice a thirst for God, and we must keep growing no matter how many times we are pushed down. Our lives can be like those little particles of yeast that have an explosive effect on the other ingredients around them. Like yeast, it takes time to have an impact, but with Christ, we can make a difference in a world that is dark and lost without Christ.
