WINNING FRIENDS AND INFLUENCING PEOPLE
By Elwin Roach
Do we suppose it pleases our Father when we work at gaining people’s admiration? Do we think He is proud of us when we impress people with our talents, and endear their hearts by our personalities? It’s very doubtful. I don’t think we ever hear Him saying, "Well done, My good and faithful son." The fact is, I would be very surprised to find that He is pleased with such human overtures. There is, of course, nothing wrong with possessing God-given talents and attractive personalities. Such qualities in people’s lives are portions of who they are, and not to be despised; but talents and personalities should never be used as tools to manipulate others.
We have no record that Jesus, our prime example, went about trying to win friends and influence people. His security was not in people, but in something higher, much higher. It was in His Father and also in knowing who He was. It mattered not what the world thought of Him, He remained the same. If the sea of religion roared and foamed out its anger, He rested in His Father and slept in the back of life’s ship. When there was a need to move on, and while the storm continued its fury — He was not daunted. If He did not still the waves for the sake of others, He walked over the boisterous billows of condemnation.
Jesus never went to the leaders of religion hoping to gain their favor and calm the storm against Him. It was not His intention to get His foot in the door to their hallowed halls so He could be endorsed and set up with a ministry. Compromise was not in Him, and neither did He use His charisma to draw crowds of thousands to be recognized as "God’s man of the hour." He didn’t have to. He knew He was more than that — He was the very Day, the Daystar, the Sun, the Light coming into the world that would light every man (John 1:9).
Moreover, our Lord did not join clubs in order to get acquainted with the city fathers, the right business men, judges, legislators, and other people of influence, to insure His livelihood and social status. Such carnal tactics had no part with the life and Kingdom wherein He dwelled. His livelihood was rooted and grounded in His Father.
An excerpt from WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SON