It is much easier to tell people what to do than to set an example for them. Yet our actions are much more convincing than our words. There are even personal advantages to being an example to emulate.

Human beings are very egocentric. Our physical instincts drive us to self-preservation, to the point where our decisions are often made considering what is best for us. “It’s every man for himself”, we often hear. That is not a new phenomenon: from the Garden of Eden, the first humans thought about the momentary delights instead of thinking about the long-term consequences on the rest of the world. So when our Lord encourages us to love our neighbor as much as ourselves, He leads us outside the box.

That is also what makes the apostle Paul’s statement so provocative. “Therefore I urge you, be imitators of me” (1 Corinthians 4:16 NASB). And he repeats this in other letters; he told this to the Corinthians, the Ephesians, the Philippians, and the Thessalonians. He is encouraging his contemporaries to do like him. That is: to seek God, to learn from the Word, to persevere in persecution, and to continue to spread the good news. Not only did he give instructions but followed his advice daily.

Maybe it’s time for some introspection. Could we tell a young believer to imitate us in our faith? Is our walk in Christ worth emulating? It is not just about being an example to our children, but about being a model Christian for the Church. “Finally therefore, brothers, we ask you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus that, just as you have received from us how it is necessary for you to live and to please God, just as indeed you are living, that you progress even more” (1 Thessalonians 4:1 LEB). Does our spiritual life grow; do we progress even more in the Lord?

What about your singleness? Could you say to a young, Christian single “Do like me”? Sometimes we think that the way we run our life, and the decisions we make are our own business. But no! We should be single in an exemplary way. We are not perfect, but we are making progress. When we are discouraged about our social status, we may be tempted to take shortcuts, to compromise. But if we keep in mind that we are an example, it will keep us from giving in to temptation.

And this is one of the main advantages of being a role model. When we are ready to be an open book, to be viewed by all, we are much more vigilant in our decisions and actions. When we are ready to be an example to follow, we make sure that we are on the right path. To be a role model, a big brother, or a big sister to a young Christian, is a great asset for our growth. We should not go about our life without considering our surroundings. We should always think about the image we are projecting - whether it is in the likeness of Christ. Even Paul reminded Timothy that his conduct was observed by others. “Practice these things. Be diligent in these things, in order that your progress may be evident to everyone” (1 Timothy 4:15 LEB). Is the progress we have made in our spiritual life evident to those around us? What is it about our conduct that we would not want another Christian to emulate us? There is certainly room for improvement.