PERSONAL BELIEFS ARE THE SHAPERS of all conversations in all relationships, and the driving force of all goals. When the underlying convictions are alike, there is greater unity of thought and the actions that follow between individuals or groups. The opposite is similarly true, producing discord. Influencers have deep knowledge of these axiomatic truths, and they constantly, consistently, and consciously observe the core beliefs and needs of those with whom they seek to interact. Their purpose in this is to gain trust in order to achieve an outcome. These are the deceptive practices of charlatans, the principles that motivate good-hearted men and women, and the beneficial calling of the saints.
All who are adept at these practices do so with convincing authenticity from a convicted purpose. The charlatan seeks some personal gain as an outcome, at the mark’s expense. The good person seeks something best for all, and is willing to give to that purpose. But the saint seeks something towards and from a higher order—the salvation of a lost person’s soul—and is driven by a different motivation. The bible tells the saint, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” (Prov. 3:4)
The common con man always has his eye out for the mark and knows the tell-tale weaknesses and how to exploit them; the occasional good person attracts to his or her cause due to underlying shared core values. But the rare saint has an ever-present keen awareness of the full range of human expression, and the exceptional ability to manage relationships in all circumstances to produce the best outcome possible in any situation for his ever-present driving goal. He does so because he not only knows human nature, but also because he has a rare knowledge about human nature. He knows something incredible about people that they do not know about themselves. He knows that everyone was created in the image of God (cf. Gen. 1:27), and that deep within, all men and women are seeking their true self. (cf. Ecc. 3:11)
Such a man was Paul, Christ’s Apostle to the Gentiles. He said of himself, and to all Christ-followers across the ages, “So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.” (1 Cor. 4:1) The secret that Paul held was simply this: the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wrote, “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor. 1:22-24) He kept his focus narrow. “I resolved to know nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2) And his motivation was to change not only what people believed, but their reasons for believing. “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” (1 Cor. 2:4)
His challenge to us, to all who follow in the footsteps of Jesus, is “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Cor. 4:2) His exhortation to us is the same as it was to his protégé, Timothy. It continues to be motivated by a narrow focus. “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” (1 Tim. 4:2, 5)
But influence, if it is truly to be effective, cannot be wielded like a club; trust cannot be bludgeoned into submission—it must be wooed into fruition. Scripture says that, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” (Pro. 11:30). If you or I desire to influence souls for Christ then we would do well to study carefully and apply diligently the methods that Paul employed from the person that he became. “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law, so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law, so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.” (1 Cor. 9:19-22a) At this point in his monologue he seems to share all the mechanisms of influence of the charlatan as well as the good person.
It is what he says next that not only distinguishes him from them, but places him in an entirely different sphere of reference and plane of existence. His purpose is not selfish, and his motivation is elevated beyond simply the doing of the good. “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Cor. 9:22a-23)
Paul’s methods were broad, his focus was intense, and his motivations were pure; this gave him spiritual power. Like Jesus, he had to be about “his Father’s work.” (cf. John 5:17-21) So also should we.
Q. Are my motives the same as my Father’s?
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