The power of influence in our daily lives is undeniable. It can happen in the subtlest way like swaying a friend’s choice on food. Or it could manifest in a major way such as the cry of the masses affected by government decisions.

To have a deep understanding of the concept would require accepting that influence is omnipresent, and the Bible is one of its testaments. In my book, The Song of Solomon Revealed, I talk about influence and mention the concept many times.

I bring up influence first on page 33 of my book, which follows my discussion on the Song of Solomon, specifically, Song 1:5–6:

 

I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother’s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

It is easy to confuse the verse for a negative statement. However, it is the exact opposite. The phrase the sun hath looked upon me describes Jesus’s light and his gospel shining upon us. How we interpret and apply his gospel shape our lives, and that is his greatest influence on us.

Another aspect where I bring up the topic of influence is on page 83 of my book where I bring up Song 2:6: “His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.”

In this case, the right hand represents the ministry of the body while the left hand stands for the ministry of the church. The left hand is the representation of the church’s influence on us. Namely, the church’s teachings impact the way we go about our daily routine, including our thinking process.

The church has the ability to influence even the smallest details of our lives. For example, the church’s impact on our values consequently shapes our daily interactions. It bestows on us personality traits like patience, compassion, and the ability to discern between right and wrong. In other ways, the church as a body of influence can also steer our minds toward our stand on political issues and selecting the people with whom we want to spend time, among others.

Last and most importantly, I discuss Song 2:15 on page 104 of my book: “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.”

These “little foxes” are the mostly neglected things—like sins or offenses—that may get the better of us. I cite one such experience in my book. A few years ago, I was awarded employee of the month, which earned me a regular parking spot. When I was called in early one night, there was already a car parked on my spot. The dew on the car’s back almost tempted me to write “Your name is not Owen.” That temptation was a little fox. I managed to let the situation go after some contemplation, and the person ended up apologizing later.

But why does this story matter in our talk about influence? Aside from God’s influence on us, another important manifestation of the concept is our influence on other people. As Christians, we should always remind ourselves that we have our own circle of influence. Hence, it is our responsibility to uphold our values and not be tempted by little foxes. We should lead by example and influence one another to be better followers of God.

More of my views on the Lord’s influence on us can be found in my book, The Song of Solomon Revealed. Connect with me on my social channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads for more on influence.

References

Hagedorn, Terry K. 2007. “Fight the Little Foxes That Spoil the Vine.” Crosswalk, July 13. Accessed October 9, 2017. https://www.crosswalk.com/…/fight-the-little-foxes-that-spoil-the-vine-1363567.html.

Keathley, J. Hampton. 2004. “Mark #1: An Example For Others to Imitate.” Bible.org, May 26. Accessed October 9, 2017. https://bible.org/seriespage/mark-1-example-others-imitate.

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