A model stands as an ideal representation of something. Therefore, a role model is one whose life stands as the ideal type of life we want to live. In essence, it is the life that inspires and influences the way we live. A role model is somebody whose life and behavior we want to emulate. Someone who you admire and look up to. They can be a celebrity, a friend, a family member, or even someone you don’t know. It’s important to have a role model because they can provide motivation, inspiration, and support.
Many of us have different role models ranging from, actors, artists, public figures etc. People whose type of life influences the way we talk, dress and think. Paul while speaking to the Thessalonians thanked them for taking the Lord as their role model after hearing the word of God which says that to love God and our neighbour is the greatest commandment and also after observing the way Paul lived amongst them.
Looking at the life of Jesus, one would see that it is full of love, mercy, healing and compassion.  So, to take Him as your role model is to live in deep communion with God, to love our neighbour, to remove any form of oppression and accept all as one. Saint Theresa once said,” Take the Lord as the Role Model in word, thoughts and deeds and you will certainly live in love” Consequently, to take the Lord as our role model is to support the good of the other person and not plan evil against him/her.
Sometimes we come to people with bad intentions. We flatter them and sing their praises just to get what we want instead of being straightforward with them like the Lord always was with the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Let us, therefore, quit all this double game and free our hearts from dislike and do things only from the depth and purity of our hearts. Judging from the passages in the bible, it is obvious that the Pharisees never at any point in time came to listen to Jesus because they believed in His word rather their presence was only for their own interest and also to entrap Him unlike in the case of the Thessalonians who were appreciated by Paul because they came to listen to the word of God and were positively influenced.
So, who is your role model, is Jesus your role model ? If indeed He is and you truly want to change your life then, the word of God should be your guide. We should be ready to learn from the word of God, how to live in love and encourage one another and not plan to bring others down. For us to successfully deal with issues and problems from people, we really need to take Jesus as our role model. When we do this, our lives will change and like the Thessalonians, we will become a light to others and a source of inspiration and change to the poor. We will no more act rashly when we find ourselves in a tough situation but , we will be able to handle the situation with wisdom, tolerance and understanding. Therefore, as leaders in society, community and churches, take the Lord Jesus as your role model so that with love, you will live to save and lessen the sufferings of the people as He does.
Taking the Lord as your role model will remove the evil of envy and unhappiness when others succeed or when they share their testimonies. Be happy for them and be transparent. Just as the Thessalonians in the bible, became role models and exemplars of the gospel to Macedonia and Achaia, let us live lives worthy of emulation and be worthy of imitation.

Betty

Beatrice Egbuna is an experienced Broadcast Technologist with a strong background in managing broadcast equipment and sound technology. She has played a leading role in building and installing various radio studios, as well as maintaining and repairing both analogue and digital equipment at Voice of Nigeria (VON) studios. Egbuna holds a degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the Lagos State University (LASU), and has received training in Audio Engineering from the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom. She also holds certificates in Senior Management Programmes from the Lagos Business School (LBS) and the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), as well as a certificate in Entrepreneurial Management from the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU). Prior to joining EDC in 2011, Beatrice worked in various capacities at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and VON before retiring in 2010 as Deputy Director Programming. She has also worked as a Consultant/Mentor on projects like "Road-to-Growth" powered by Cherie Blair Foundation and Access Bank Plc. Egbuna produced and presented "Enterprise Stories", a live radio program on Inspiration 92.3 FM, which brings entrepreneurs together every Tuesday at 3 pm to share their success stories and inspire startup developers to follow their dreams. She also produced "The Economy and You," a program that aired for about four years on Rhythm 93.7 FM, which brought policymakers, technocrats and successful business executives to discuss government policies and their impact on the economy and businesses in Nigeria. Currently, Beatrice Egbuna is the Principal Consultant at Maluwe Capacity Builders International, Nigeria, where she provides real-time feedback and actionable advice that adds value to her clients. She is also a mentor and faculty member at the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University, and a BDSP Consultant on the 5-year (20??-20??) MASTERCARD TRANSFORMING NIGERIA YOUTH PROJECT (TNY). Egbuna is passionate about developing the entrepreneurship ecosystem, providing business support and advisory services to entrepreneurs within and outside the EDC business network for over a decade. She is a certified IFC/LPI Trainer, certified SMEDAN Business Development Service Provider (BDSP), life coach, work-life balance advocate/coordinator, and marriage counsellor who helps employees/career/business people find fulfilment in the workplace, balance in their daily activities, and solutions to their marital challenges. To reach Beatrice Egbuna she can be contacted through her email addresses: bettyegbuna@yahoo.com and maluwehelp@gmail.com. She also has a website, https://momentwithbetty.com.

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  • Great article. Two of my favorite saints are John the Baptist and the John the Apostle. They bought had very special relationships with Jesus, yet those relationships could not have been more different. John the Baptist first met Jesus when they were both unborn children in their mother's wombs. There is no record of them meeting again until John baptized Jesus in the river Jordan, though it seems likely they spent time together as children, given the lengths Mary went to in order to visit John's mother during her pregnancy. Nonetheless, when John encountered Jesus the day of his baptism, familiarity or not, there was the complete opposite of contempt, John held Jesus not only in great respect, but with reverence.
    John the Apostle had the opposite relationship in many respects. He was tremendously close to Jesus and spent three years at his side. He had the courage to stand at the foot of the cross, the only man among a group of brave women. And he is referred to six times in the Gospel as the disciples Jesus loved.
    That is what role model is all about, focus on giving and not taking and taking out time to be a good friend to others.

    • Dr. Matthew your wealth of knowledge in spiritual matters is just overwhelming. Thanks always for availing us the opportunity to tap from your wealth of knowledge.

  • Thanks for sharing.
    I never thought of Jesus as a role model. I know him as our Lord and Savior but never really saw him as a role model. I now have an understanding that he is also our role model.
    However, I have a question. What's the difference between a role model and a mentor. Is Jesus also our mentor?

    • A role mode is someone we would like to be like and emulate. While a mentor, is one who guides us to achieve something good or success in our business orendeavours. Thank you Helen.

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