Who is my role model?

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“ But I have hope in the Lord Jesus that I will soon send Timothy to you, so that I too may be refreshed when I find out how things are with you. For I have no one like myself who will care so deeply for you. For they all look out for their own interests, not for those of Jesus Christ. But you know that he has proven himself, for like a son to his father he ministered with me to the gospel ” (Philippians 2:19-22).

Are we influenced by others? Do we do so intentionally or unintentionally? And are the effects of this influence beneficial to our lives and personal development? We often unconsciously adopt the opinions and lifestyles of others if we consider them capable, likeable, or exemplary. But should we imitate them?

Every child has a primary caregiver from whom they learn through observation. We take it for granted that children adopt their parents' appearance and character traits. Even habits and gait are often copied by children.

There are some fellow believers in our congregations who serve as role models for us. Brothers whom we may consider fathers of the faith. These brothers and sisters helped found and shape the fellowship as it is today. The church life we now take for granted, they longed for in prisons, labor camps, and other hardships. We may look to their lives and marvel at the miracles God performed in their lives. We would not want to experience the difficulties they faced today. We can learn so much from these role models.

The Bible tells of the Apostle Paul's role as a model for the young servant Timothy. Timothy had a mindset closely aligned with the Word of God and was shaped by following Paul. Thus, in addition to the biblical message, Timothy had a direct role model to emulate. We see that this young brother attended a school that left a lasting impression. His life was shaped by what he learned. He not only increased his knowledge but also saw in the Apostle Paul how biblical teachings were put into practice. He followed the advice to remain steadfast in what he had learned: "But as for you, continue in what you have learned" (2 Timothy 3:14a).

Reflecting on my own life, I cannot say that I have been as faithful a follower of Christ as Timothy, although I too have some role models in my circle. Recognizing this and coming before God in humility is the gift of grace given to everyone.

 

Do your values align with those of the Bible?

Timothy focused on a heart faithful to the Bible. He allowed his character and opinions to be guided by biblical truth. Only in this way could he become a capable partner at Paul's side.

Although the Apostle Paul was older than Timothy, he did not consider Paul's teachings outdated. Young people are often tempted to dismiss the views and opinions of the older generation as obsolete. Being more dynamic and flexible, it's easy to scoff at the values of older people. Timothy could have acted the same way, but he consciously chose not to.

I think Timothy saw in the Apostle Paul, his role model, a special man. Timothy understood that the Apostle Paul's spiritual experience, his fatherly pastoral care, and his exemplary life of faith far surpassed theoretical knowledge. The young servant valued the apostle as a good mentor and advisor.

How far do you go in following Jesus? Do you allow the Word of God to influence the way your heart sees things?

We read about several other companions who traveled with the Apostle Paul, such as Mark, Epaphras, Demas, and others (see Colossians 4:10-14; 2 Timothy 4:10). In the passage from the Letter to the Philippians quoted above, Paul describes how only one remained with a sincere heart, namely Timothy, who did not seek his own gain (see Philippians 2:20-21). There were also servants in Paul's circle who, while performing their duties, did not do so with devotion, even placing their own interests before God's will and His requirements. Timothy is portrayed in our biblical text as a proven co-worker: "But you know that he has proven himself, for he ministered to me in the gospel like a son to his father" (Philippians 2:22). He had faced challenges and overcome them. He had distinguished himself as a tried and tested, reliable co-worker in the Kingdom of God.

In several passages of the Bible, we read about the goal of the spiritual maturation process: namely, that we be equipped for service and become capable of every good work (cf. 2 Tim 3:17; Gal 2:10). We are all to go through this process of growth and be fully and selflessly useful in our Lord's ministry. The Apostle Paul describes Timothy as someone who serves as a model for the entire church, someone whose goal is to serve and represent God and the church in an honest and reliable manner. The Apostle Paul wants to send a similar representative to the Philippians, someone who will "care for you with all his heart" (cf. Phil 2:20).

Those who seek their own gain, their own reputation, their own comfort, avoid effort and problems. Instead, we should delve into the challenges within the church and meet them with patience, love, and perseverance. That is why Paul wants to send the proven Timothy to the Philippians. We long for such a pastor in our own church. But shouldn't we also experience this growth process and thus become role models for future generations? Yes, surely God wants to use us as role models.

God wants to positively influence our spiritual development. Even when we lack strength, His wonderful promises apply to us. God's promises are reliable, unshakeable, and true: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

We have seen that Timothy had a special teacher as a personal role model. We too may emulate our spiritual role models in the church. But above all, we should take Jesus as our example. His entire life was a sacrifice for others. He selflessly dedicated himself to people. By washing the feet of His disciples, He set an example of humility and devotion. The culmination of His ministry, however, remains His voluntary death on the cross. Out of selfless love for humanity, He embarked on this sacrificial journey to Calvary to atone for the sins of humankind. We are aware that this path was not easy. Nothing could prevent Jesus Christ from completing the plan of salvation. This was a tremendous victory achieved on Calvary. This is an unsurpassable example. Let us follow it.

 

Siegfried Folz

Municipality of Molbergen

 

Bible quotations follow the translation by Martin Luther (rev. 1984).