Multiple role models?

I don’t have role models in the traditional sense. But there are people whose tenacity and creativity I appreciate. They have an inspirational appeal but I’m not following their footsteps. I’m charting my own path and drawing motivation and encouragement from their words, success, etc.

Sure we can have multiple role models. Unless you want your life to be a perfect copy of someone else, then one role model will do.

At the very core I have to say, having Jesus be our model is best because although fully man He did not have a 'self' nature. This led Him to fully follow the Father and grow into full maturity and union with Him. Since this is our aim then He is the only one we can really model our lives after.

However, because we all have a 'self' nature, sometimes looking to others who have learned to overcome that nature may help. I would not call them models so much as examples for even the best fail miserably. We are all flawed and fall short of His glory so it is best to understand that up front than to risk disappointment later. By keeping Jesus as our perfect model and learning from the examples of others, both good and bad, we can grow up in faith.

God can give us encouragement and wisdom from these examples to guide and help us. This augments our understanding of how to mature into a relationship with God. Let Jesus lead you in this and He will always teach you through many situations, examples and people. Just remember not to put any created being on the same level as Jesus as they will bitterly disappoint you. Our 'self' nature is a betrayer so until you see that being crucified in a person be careful not to follow them.

Blessings,
Homer Les
www.uncompromisingfaith.ca

The problem with assuming Jesus is your role model is that his roles may be very different from yours.
Jesus' actual roles:

Jewish man under the Law of Moses
Traveling rabbi
Prophet/High Priest/King
Messiah
Enemy of the State
Silent Martyr of religious persecution

Not many people can or want to fulfill those roles the way Jesus did.

Personally, I aim to follow (obey) Christ. I don't try to follow (imitate) Christ.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

I'm OK with that.

Canada90 said:

Can you have multiple role models? I know Jesus is our main role model,but i mean can we also have multiple role models the way we want to be or build or self esteem? What do you think?

Click to expand...

We naturally take our eyes off Jesus when we look to people as our role model. We should follow the examples of people inasmuch as they follow the example of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).

Godly Leadership

One weak point of making Jesus our role model is that we all see a different Jesus. That is obvious just from these forums. Most, if not all of us, see a Jesus that is based on our own image. We tend to see Jesus as a better version of ourselves.

Unfortunately, no one in the Bible appeared to see Jesus as "My Best Self." So, I think that a lot of people who claim Jesus as their role model are just fooling themselves into following an idol of their own creation.