September 13

Influence


Vulnerability and confession are keys to honor.


Proverbs 18
12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud,

but humility comes before honor.

The most powerful testimonies are those of people who have made huge mistakes and repented of their folly. Such humility brings honor. Vulnerability and confession are keys to honor. Why? People seldom identify with strength as much as they do with those who are demonstratively humble. This is one of the prevailing principles for those who value influence for good over power. It is the basic lesson of the Beatitudes.[1]

Luke 6 (NIV)
20Looking at his disciples, he (Jesus) said:
"Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22Blessed are you when men hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.
23"Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,
because great is your reward in heaven.
For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
24"But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.


[1] The Beatitudes uses the word “woe” which really is not a word. It is an expectative and rightly spoken would be like a cry of grief- almost a howl. When Jesus cries out for the proud he is grieving because he knows the honor they seek will only come after a downfall or a great “wake-up call.”