For our kids today, one of the most important decisions they will make concerns whom they will choose to be their role model. The famous basketball player Charles Barkley once said on television that he was not a kid’s role model. I understand Charles’ point of him not being the kid’s mother or father; however, whether he wants to be a role model or not kids all over the world have thrust him into that position.

 

So many of us, kids and adults alike, have been picked by others as role models. Whether we like it or not we have been thrust into the position. We are shaping kids lives by what we say and do. 

 

In our text today, Paul was the role model and mentor for Timothy. Timothy had been with Paul on missionary journeys. Paul had taken Timothy under his wings. For us as adults, we must ask ourselves the question, “Are we willing to teach?” For the youth of today, they must ask themselves the question, “Are they willing to be taught?”

 

In I Timothy 4:11, Paul told Timothy what he should prescribe and teach. At the end of I Timothy, Paul said in 6:20, “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you ... For Timothy, Paul was his role model. For Paul, Timothy was willing to teach him.

 

From our text today, Paul points out some things we can consider in choosing a good model. When people are picking a role model or mentor, kids and adults should consider the following characteristics:

 

 

As a potential role model for a kid, we need to remember to apply the following basic principles in our lives.

 

 

Today so many of our kids are modeling the wrong people and the wrong things. I leave you with this prayer. “Lord, help our youth identify people that they can model themselves after. Lord, help us as adults realize that whether we want to be or not, we are role models. Thank you Lord for putting spirit-led people in my life and help me be a spirit-led person who can effectively mentor others. In Jesus name, I pray. AMEN!