Everyone Makes A Difference In This World

Everyone makes an impact on this world. No matter who you are you change the world. Your conversations change people. You make people happy or sad, angry or impatient. As you stand in line the person behind you has to wait, even if only for a moment, because of you. You’ve changed their day. You do things that are beneficial and harmful to others. Even a hermit living in a cave is thought about from time to time by others who once knew him.

When we think about making a difference most of us think it means to make a bigger difference than these examples. We think of people like Thomas Edison or Mother Theresa. Yes, it’s true they made a bigger difference. My point is that everyone makes a difference. The question isn’t whether you’re going to make a difference but how big of a difference.

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Early in Jesus’ ministry He preached the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:13 He says,

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Salt makes a difference in everything it touches. It enhances flavor. In Jesus’ day it was also used to preserve and purify food. Another way we can think of it is that salt influences things.

As Christians our mission is to influence others. As we do this by the power of God we can and should make a bigger difference than we would make if we weren’t Christians.

There are many ways we can make a bigger difference in the lives of those around us. I want to focus on just one, how we talk. The reason I’m choosing this is because of what Paul says in Colossians 4:6.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know who you ought to answer each person.

Make A Bigger Difference With Your Words

There are positive and negative ways we can influence others with how we talk. Let’s consider the negative. By that I mean what we don’t say. There are unhealthy ways of talking that are commonly accepted as okay that we shouldn’t do. This is hard to learn.

• Don’t engage in gossip.
• Don’t talk about people behind their backs.
• Don’t say negative and critical things.
• Don’t respond in kind to those who are harsh with you.

If you don’t do those things people will see it and wonder why you don’t. That gives you the opportunity to share your faith. There are positive things you can do, too.

• Be gracious.
• Be encouraging.
• Be positive.

Salt is powerful. We only need a little salt. You have the power as a child of God to exert tremendous influence on those around you. You can make a bigger difference.

Many times in my life I’ve had people swear in front of me and then apologize. They realized they said it in front of me. Perhaps you’ve experienced that, too. It is just a small glimpse at how we all can make a bigger difference in this world for Christ.

How have you made a bigger difference in this world? I’d love to hear from you.