“Influence” is the ability to change people’s minds and/or behavior. That ability may be related to one’s wealth, one’s position, or one’s ability to reason, etc.
Absalom was, like Adolf Hitler, a wicked man but with the powerful ability to influence people to his way of thinking. While he used his ability to influence in a negative way, there are some positive characteristics we see in him and can learn from him. Let’s look at 2 Samuel 15:1-6.
BE A WORKER:
Verse 2 – “Absalom used to rise early.” What matters in building human capital is daily working for the long haul. Consider Colossians 4:5-6. Over time, if you are consistent at serving others, you build up respect, experience, emotional support of others, skills in dealing with different people’s personality, etc.
BE INTERESTED IN OTHERS:
Verse 2 – Absalom would ask, “From what city are you?”
It is an axiom that you treat people the way you see them. Every man is created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). So we ought to be interested in and treat other people with profound respect (Philippians 2:3-4).
BE AGREEABLE WITH OTHERS’ PROBLEMS:
Verse 3 – “Your claims are good and right.” Emotions are what moves people and if others see that you are interested in them, they’ll let you influence them. You show that you are interested in others when you are interested in others. Listen. Empathize. Make other people’s problems your own. Pray for them.
DO WHAT IS RIGHT BY OTHERS:
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Verse 4 – “I would give him justice.”
This point is about character. This is what you are and it comes out in what you do and how you treat others (Galatians 6:10).
HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE OTHERS:
Verse 5 – Absalom “put out his hand and took hold of him and kissed him.”
Humility recognizes your own weaknesses and others’ strengths. But you have to be secure in your strengths before you are willing to recognize your weaknesses. When you will not submit to the ideas and suggestions of others, you rob them of the power to help you be a better person. It creates a wall in your friendship.
BE IMPARTIAL:
Verse 6 – “In this manner, Absalom dealt with all Israel.” You build relationships and influence people by building up people – any person, every person. It takes time, energy, and resources to develop relationships with people. The Bible emphasizes from beginning to end the idea of being impartial: Lev. 19:15; Deut. 16:19; Job 32:21; Luke 20:21; James 2:1, 9; 3;17.
Certainly, we would not want to imitate Absalom’s motive; he was clearly flattering the people for his own personal interest. However, he was successful. He was successful in having a influence on people because he was a worker, he was interested in others, he was agreeable with others, he did right by others, he was interested in others’ problems, and he was impartial. Again, he did it all with impure motives but – he was successful.
Paul Holland
