The dictionary defines a role model as a person who someone admires, and whose behavior they try to emulate. However, many times sports stars, rappers, and other celebrities are chosen because of their success in a skill or economic way. The whole person is very seldom considered.

Whether they are good or bad role models, they can influence both children and adult’s identity, values, attitudes, and behaviors. They may influence young and old to value superficial aspects of their lives like brand names and their image. My motivation was to not emulate the people I saw while growing up.

Role models can be great for self-improvement because some must have a standard to strive for or compare themselves with. Many great leaders, sportsmen and high-achievers have one thing in common — they all have role models whom they strived to emulate in some way and eventually ended up doing better than their role models.

In the 1990’s Charles Barkley stated,” I cannot be a role model for your kid. Your kid does not know me. I can be an athletic hero, but a role model should be a mom, a dad, an aunt, an uncle, someone the kid has a contact with.” He was criticized for his honesty. You have to read the rest of the story.

If your role model is your parent, teacher, or a family member, you have the advantage of having access to them so that you can talk to them and get tips on how to go about doing things. They can become our personal coaches, and do a good job of it because they care about us and seeing us do well can be as important to them as it is to us.

So, we should choose our role models carefully, choosing those with a strong moral standing and of an upright character. Though they may have their flaws, (all have sinned and come short) they can be inspiring despite their weaknesses. This will help us to see how it is possible to overcome or simply turn a weakness into a strength, and not let flaws hold us back from being the best.

The Bible makes it clear that the goal of our lives is to become like Christ. Paul challenges us to “Present everyone matures in Christ.” (Col. 1:28). However, becoming like Christ is a lifelong process, not an event. It does not appear as glorious as the earthly role models.  God can take what little faith we have and multiply it in ways that make our limitations vanish.

His provisions for us are always complete.