The Weight of Influence

Jesus' warning in Matthew 18:6 is one of the most severe in all of Scripture: 'Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.'

This isn't hyperbole. This is Jesus telling us that how we influence others — especially young or vulnerable believers — matters eternally.

Maybe you're a parent. Maybe you're a teacher, a mentor, a friend, a co-worker. Maybe you're just someone who shows up at church on Sundays. Regardless, you have influence. The question is: what are you doing with it?

Are you building up or tearing down? Are you pointing people toward Jesus or away from Him? Are you living in a way that makes the gospel beautiful or confusing?

This isn't about perfection. None of us get it right all the time. But it is about intentionality. It's about recognizing that our lives are being watched, especially by those who are newer or weaker in the faith. And if we lead them astray — whether through our words, our actions, or our example — God will hold us accountable.

James 3:1 reminds us that teachers will be judged with greater strictness. But the principle applies to all of us. We are all teaching something. The question is: what?

As you head into the Lord's Day tomorrow, ask God to search your heart. Ask Him to show you where your influence might be leading others astray. And ask Him for the grace to live in a way that makes Jesus irresistible.