What comes to mind when you hear the word “influence”? Take sixty seconds to really let that sink in. Where does your mind go? What thoughts or images come to the surface?

I would imagine that for most of us, the word “influencer” immediately comes to mind. That makes sense, of course! Our social media feeds are filled with influencer accounts. If we’re honest, we probably spend countless hours soaking in their curated content. It’s hard not to be captivated by the appeal of the influencer lifestyle—the glamorous photos, the millions of followers, the endless opportunities.

So much so that 57% of Gen Z and 41% of all adults admit they would like to pursue a career as an “influencer” themselves (Source CNBC.com). It’s easy to see why so many of us crave that kind of impact and recognition. But here’s the thing: we live in a culture that’s essentially obsessed with climbing the ladder of influence, whether that’s on social media, in our careers, or even in our personal lives.

But why are we so driven to gain influence? Is it a yearning to be acknowledged? A desire to be seen? Or a deeper need to be loved and appreciated. Regardless of the motivation, the result is the same. Our world is obsessed with the idea of finding influence and figuring out how to gain more.

 However, I would like to invite you to shift your perspective on what influence truly means. Instead of constantly chasing after more, let’s embrace the influence we already possess.

 Here’s a scenario: Picture yourself as a manager, and you have an eager employee on your team. They are hungry for growth, ready to take on every opportunity that comes their way. They want to make an impact and are always seeking ways to increase their influence. First off, that drive is commendable! Striving for influence can lead to amazing opportunities and personal growth.

Now, imagine this same employee struggling to meet deadlines and frequently missing the mark in their current role. As their boss, how would you respond? If you’re a good manager, I imagine it’d be something like this. 

“Learn to carry your load before you ask for more weight”. 

 This highlights a crucial point: influence is fundamentally about stewardship. We often overlook this first step. We must learn to steward our existing influence effectively before we seek to receive more. The truth is, we all have influence, whether we realize it or not.

No matter who you are or what you do, you have been entrusted with a level of influence—an opportunity to love and support those around you. It’s about encouraging a friend who’s feeling down, pushing others to strive for better, or simply spreading kindness in your community. And ultimately, as followers of Jesus, our aspirations for influence should stem from the desire to share the love we’ve experienced. In Matthew 25, when Jesus shares the parable of the Talents, He shares how 3 workers are given talents to steward. The first servant is given 5. The next is given 2. and the last servant is given 1. In this story, the servant with the 5 talents and the servant with 2 talents are both praised and rewarded for stewarding their investments. The point of this parable is not about the servant with the 5 talents being rewarded more than the servant with two. That’s not what happens. Each servant has their unqiue level of influence and their responsibility is to steward it. It’s not up to us to answer how many talents we will start with, but it is up to us to learn how to steward what we’ve been given.

 So, let’s embrace the responsibility that comes with our current level of influence! The sooner we recognize that we possess more influence than we think, the sooner we can appreciate the blessings and responsibilities that come with it. Let’s shift the narrative from ‘I want more’ to ‘How can I make a difference with what I already have?’ After all, every small act of influence adds up to create a greater impact.