A man's influence is immortal. Why then not strive to make its perpetuation worthwhile?   

J.C. Penney

J.C. Penney started out like so many of us do, with a small business and a willingness to put in whatever hard work was necessary to make it work. He ended up, however, as few men do, going from a one store operation in a small Wyoming town, to overseeing one of America's first billion dollar businesses. Such accomplishment would be enough to swell any man's ego, but not J.C. Penney. In fact, the more successful he became, the closer he walked with God... or perhaps more accurately, the more closely he walked with God, the more successful he became. So how did he do it? 

One of the keys to Mr. Penney's success was the recognition of the importance of a man's influence. He wasn't interested in this from a perspective of being influential in a self-aggrandizing way, rather, he was keenly aware of how important his influence was on his fellow man. He knew that if he could treat others the way he would like to be treated, if he could give an honest day's work for an honest day's pay and expect the same from others, then he would have an influence that would be worthwhile: One that would help others draw closer to God.

How about us? It's true that we may never have the influence of a J.C. Penney, but we do have our share of influence. Every day that we interact with others, whether it be our family or business associates or friends or just our chance acquaintances, we have influence. The question is, what will we do with that influence? Will we use others? Will we merely tolerate others as a necessary nuisance? Or, will we help others come a little closer to God with every touch we have on their daily existence?

The fact is that our influence will far exceed the few short years of our physical lives. Will we leave behind a legacy of selfish pursuit? Will we just "tread water" and then pass on? Or, will we leave behind a legacy that is worthy of the Master? We answer this question every day... with our influence.

Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.  

Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV