The Power of Influence

Some of the older motivational books written in the early twentieth century; were written in a time of high moral values and a time when reading was as popular as cable television is today.  It was a time of a more sensible balance.  Radio, in its own way seized people’s time much like television did later.  People feared that conversation would become obsolete and that the radio would lower moral values; make people lazy and break up families.  In short, it was feared to become a bad influence. 

Born in 1959, my T.V. viewing was strictly monitored and greatly limited by my parents.  Until the day they each died, conversation won out over T.V. and they held their moral line and continued to express their opinions about my friends.  Their concerns about my friend’s moral values were well founded; they had a perception that came with the wisdom of their age and experience.  It was Dad who encouraged me to read the autobiographies of great individuals in history whose moral values had withstood the scrutiny of the historians.  Dad always encouraged me to pattern my life after great men of faith.  One of the common threads among those great men was the company that they kept when they were young men.  They befriended those with whom they desired to model their own character after during the foundation building of their youth.

In his autobiography; Herbert W. Armstrong quotes the advice given to him by his boss, millionaire and company owner, W. O. Finkbine:

"First, I want to give you some advice about travelling," said Mr. Finkbine. "Most people look upon it as an extravagance to ride in the Pullman cars on trains. They are wrong. As you're starting on your first long trip from home, I want to impress on you the importance of always travelling in a Pullman car, except when you do not have the money to do so.”  Mr. Finkbine added:

“First of all, especially at your age, we humans are influenced by everyone we come in contact with. On the Pullmans you will come in contact with a more successful class of people. This will have more influence than you can realize, now, on your future success in life. Then, in the Pullmans it is not only cleaner, but safer.”

[Armstrong; (1892-1986); was founder and publisher of the international magazine; The Plain Truth, started in January 1934 and continues to the present].

Throughout my youth, there was constant encouragement to spend time around older men of character.  This was very instrumental in shaping my own character and personality.  Older men and women continue to receive my respect and value of their time honored knowledge, wisdom and experience.  The principle is Biblical.

Titus 2:1-8 ESV But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.  (2)  Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.  (3)  Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, (4) and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,  (5)  to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.  (6)  Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.  (7)  Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, (8)  and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Life experience has taught me that friends can have more of a destructive contribution than a positive one.  It seems true to life, that a bad standard will pull down much more quickly that a good one can build up!  It is the old adage, “one rotten apple will spoil the entire bushel.”  The Folgers coffee company lowered the weight of a pound of coffee to 15.5 ounces; claiming that it was, “high yield,” and even more than a standard 16 ounce can of regular grind.  Every coffee company has followed their example and today, the 16 ounce, one pound can of coffee does not exist.  In fact, when the industry found that people would accept shortages for higher prices; every packing company of every product is now giving us less quantity for a high price!  The one pound unit of coffee is now measured as low as 9.5 ounces.  One unrighteous measure has toppled the entire economy.  False measures and values have led our nation into moral and financial bankruptcy.

2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

A little sin will have a greater negative affect than the same amount of righteousness having a positive affect.  We will become like the people that we spend time with on a social basis.  Choose wisely those with whom you befriend.