We live in a world of influencers. Though the word “influence” has been with us for a long time, influencer because a buzz word of the social media-ites and found its way quickly into our vocabulary. The meaning never changed. An influencer is trying to influence someone to see an issue from the influencer’s point of view. Fashion, cuisine, makeup, politics, athletics, and a myriad of topics are influenced by people spouting their opinions.
Also known as content creators, these individuals are often mocked, being told that they ought to do something of substance with their lives. In their minds, they are. They are influencing people – and banking a lot of money in the process.
Though NOT an endorsement, one of the highest grossing content creators is Jake Paul. With 21 million subscribers and a $54 million income, it’s hard to believe that it all started with hip hop music and goofy stunts. Today, he has entered the MMA and boxing arena, famously winning against Mike Tyson with a unanimous decision from the judges. Again, not an endorsement, just a fact.
Paul isn’t even the highest paid influencer. Mr. Beast ranks #1 according to Forbes magazine with 634 million followers and earnings of $85 million. He has achieved this by being “YouTube’s ringmaster of stunts and challenges.”1 He is followed by Dhar Mann who has 137 million followers and earns $56 million. He is described as “the producer of wholesome YouTube shows.”2
Today is National Set A Good Example Day. While we may not think much of the high-
paid influencers and content creators of our day, I hope we realize that we are all influencers and content creators. We may not have a presence on social media platforms, but our platform is social, whether it be at home, work, church, in a store, or wherever we may go.
With shame I admit that I have not always been the best example. In my younger years, my mouth would too often be driven by my attitude without thinking of how I might be perceived. Two instances particularly burn in my mind where I said something very ignorant and disrespectful. In one situation, I was trying to make a point that I felt was so important and valuable. In the other, I was just being a cocky, arrogant jerk while trying to be an unnecessary comedian for my audience. The entire time, the Holy Spirit was grabbing at the reigns of my heart and tongue, telling me in no uncertain terms to shut up. Did I listen? Well, what do you think? Of course, I didn’t listen and no sooner had the words flown out of my mouth than I felt the flush of shame. It took weeks – again, another shameful thing that it took me so long – before I went back to these individuals and asked forgiveness.
I can honestly say, though, that this has changed as I’ve grown up in the Lord and I’m constantly thinking about what kind of example I’m setting. How am I influencing others? By no means am I perfect at this, but I think that my failures are far more sporadic and a whole lot less horrific than in the past. I hope so because I don’t want to bring any shame or reproach on God, the name “Christian,” my church/ministry, and my wife. The idea of bringing shame to any of these absolutely frightens me! And it’s a whole lot easier to act/do right from the start than it is to try to repair damage and salvage a situation.
Paul told young Timothy, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12) I was today-years-old when I saw something in this verse that I’d never seen. Paul didn’t tell Timothy to be an example to the believers. He said, “be thou an example OF the believers.”
Timothy, you are representing believers. You’re representing the Christians that you pastor. You are representing believers in the next town over. You are representing Christians around the globe.
Timothy, you are telling the world, “Here I am. Look at me. Watch my example. THIS is what a real Christian is and does. I am an influencer. I am creating the content of how people perceive believers as a whole.” Now, that is impactful, isn’t it?
My prayer is that this weighs heavy on each of us today. Like it or not, we ARE examples of the believers. Let’s make it a good one. And may we be able to echo Paul’s words found in Philippians 3:17. “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”
1https://www.forbes.com.au/news/entrepreneurs/forbes-top-creators-2025/
2Ibid.
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
