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PROGRAM D-7559
Role modeling may be a new term we’ve invented, but it’s not a new idea. Way back in the early church the Apostle Paul understood the importance of good role modeling. He wrote:
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example . . . we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow (2 Thes. 3:7-9).
Now, consider what this teaches us. Paul inconvenienced himself in order to establish a strong model for the Thessalonian church to follow. In other words, being a godly role model for those under his influence was a very high priority for Paul, something he consciously made an effort to do even though it increased his workload.
If we are to be godly role models, we’ll have to go out of our way and inconvenience ourselves at times. It will take effort and sometimes sacrifice. You may be thinking, “Well, I think I’ll just skip it then.” But you see, we don’t have a choice about whether we’ll be a role model or not; we only have a choice about whether we’ll be a godly role model or not. Everyone is somebody’s role model.
Role modeling is both a privilege and a responsibility. It’s a privilege because it allows us to influence others in a godly direction, and that has eternal significance—it really matters. But also consider the responsibility of being a role model. For example, you can lecture your children ’til you’re blue in the face about never telling a lie, but if they hear you slanting the truth, you’ve lost your credibility. On the other hand, if they observe that you read your Bible and pray on a daily basis, they’ll be much more likely to do so as well. More than anyone else in your life, your children will learn from your example far more than they will learn from your words.
So, becoming a godly role model requires a close daily walk with the Lord, a humble spirit, and lots of dependence upon his power in us. It is a responsibility, but please, don’t lose sight of the great privilege you have to be a godly role model.