Post by Obasoto Obafemi (@Obasoto)

The Key Devotional

Friday | July 24 | 2026

INFLUENCE OF RICHES I

Matthew 19:21-22 KJV
[21] Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. [22] But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Influence is what you cannot do without in life. This is because everything we see has a way of determining what we do. In fact, the benefit and the advantage a man enjoys from a thing will determine how much he is influenced by such a thing. Due to this fact, a man is supposed to be very intentional and firm so he is not influenced to his detriment. Many people have allowed a woman's beauty to influence them into making irrational decisions that have negatively affected their lives.
The man in the text was asked to give his possessions to the poor before he can be a true follower of God, but he chose to forgo such privilege. He preferred to keep and not lose his possession than to be with God. The worth of his possessions had influenced him to the point that he felt he did not need God. This is the situation of many people in the world today. The reason they cannot come to Church is because it will affect their business. There are people that the desire to build a house or buy a car has influenced them to the point that it affected their commitment to God.
Beloved, you must know this as a truth that God does not want to share you with anything or anyone. If you are making up your mind to serve God or live for God, you must make Him your priority such that no other thing competes with Him in your heart. When the love for survival influenced Peter, he almost derailed the other disciples.
John 21:3,15 KJV Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. [15] So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
As much as God is not against you working so you will not live as a beggar, your job or the pursuit of your daily need should not hinder you from getting committed to God. Let God be your priority and you will see Him manifesting His superiority in your life.

Daily Task
Mention five ways to avoid negative influence.

Prayers
Father, I receive grace to stand against negative influence.
Father, I overcome covetousness in Jesus name.

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