Role-Modeling

A role model is a person demonstrating a part or position in life by doing it. A role model is not only explaining how to do something, but showing how it is done. More that this, a role model is not merely demonstrating a skill, but is showing how to be a worthy person while fulfilling a certain role. For example, a good mother is not a role model simply by having successful recipes to share; she is a role model by demonstrating the wisdom of worthy motherhood in a complete sense. We see the evidences of good motherhood embedded in the person; she is a strong role model – a quality person. She is showing her children how to deal with disappointment, how to be joyful, how to make wise decisions. A role model is demonstrating character not just skills.

In 2 Thessalonians 3 Paul says that he and his team were deliberate role models of this active, hard-working, energetic Christian living to the Thessalonians. How did they model this? First, Paul says, that they paid for their own food! They did not gobble up others’ food without contributing towards its cost. They got jobs so they could pay board to those they lived with while they worked in the Thessalonian church. This is so practical and plain. They demonstrated the life of Christ in them, by working. Paul says that he could have made a case for the Thessalonian Christians to provide for them, because they were teaching and ministering to them. But he said that he deliberately wanted to give them an example to imitate: that each person should work to contribute to his own support. Paul did not regard this part of life to be ‘unspiritual’, but he deliberately made the hard work they put into supporting themselves part of his lesson to the Thessalonians about how the power and energy of Christ sustains us. In these practical everyday matters, you also can prove whether the Spirit of Christ is motivating you or not. Your willingness to 'pull your weight' and be responsible for your own support in life, is one of the most basic ways that you demonstrate your new character in Christ to those who look up to you.

Paul and his team deliberately modelled what they expected of Christians. They worked hard, night and day to provide for themselves and for those they were serving. It wasn’t just at Thessalonica they did this. When Paul left Ephesus he reminded them how he had worked among them and why. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20.35

You are a leader of someone. Perhaps you are a leader of a few people, whether it be younger family members or your peers. Where is your faith and what are its outcomes? What is there about your faith that someone can see in the way you are living your life and imitate? How is your life explaining and exemplifying the Word of God? In what ways are your people learning from you to keep their life free from the love of money?

How are they seeing contentment with Christ as your highest and best treasure demonstrated in your life? What do they see when you are afflicted by terribly fearful situations? How do you model faith in Christ when you are being oppressed and troubled by the evil behaviour of family members? Who are you leading? Where are you leading them?

Paul grasped the opportunity to role model to the Thessalonians the joy of serving Christ by working hard – using up his life joyfully in the cause of Christ. Jesus Christ was his role model and he joyfully grasped with both hands the opportunity to reflect what he knew of Christ for the good of his people. Imitate Paul’s faith. Get your own faith focused in Christ so you also have something of Christ’s glory (his wisdom, strength, meekness, energy, justice, joy, mercy, love and grace) to reflect to your people. They are looking to you. They are hungry for food. They are needy of light. What will you give them!

Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. If he worked successfully to turn the apostles into role models, he can do that successfully in you, today. His qualities will never dim and never wear out. You will never go to him and find he has run out of the character you need to be a child of God. No run on ,bank will ever exhaust his supplies for you.