You are an example

Recently I have read of numerous incidents of kids trying to emulate things they have seen on TV and as a result were seriously injured.
Last night’s paper contained a story about a kid who set himself on fire to emulate a stunt seen on MTV. He was in critical condition with 2nd and 3rd degree burns all over his body. Last week a couple of kids received serious injuries trying to mimic what they saw two wrestlers do. They jumped from a two story building onto a card table. Ouch!

Anyone who follows sports has heard numerous athletes state that no one should look upon them as a role model. In the case of thugs such as Ray Lewis and scores of other professional athletes, that is good advice.
Unfortunately millions of kids do anyway and even though the athletes in many cases do not desire the position, it goes with the job. And so it is with all of us. Maybe our influence does not reach millions, or even hundreds, perhaps it is but a few, but every one of us has an influence on someone, whether we want the job or not. What kind of example are you? I do not like that question because, admittedly, I am not always a good example of a Christian.

The Bible teaches that Christians should be careful of how we act. The last thing a Christian wants to do is hinder someone else. If a non-Christian sees a Christian cuss like a sailor, tell crude jokes and live a secular life, it is far worse than seeing a non-Christian do all those things. One of the things on my prayer list is to ask God to help me in this area. That is fine and dandy; however, I need to do my part too. We must try very hard to defeat satan in this important battle.
This subject reminds me of a saying that adults use sometimes when little kids are around: “Be careful, little pictures have big ears”. If the subject is not appropriate to discuss in front of little children, perhaps it might be better not to discuss it with adults. In other words “big pictures” should not have big mouths.

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1 Cor.24…
Do you not know that those who
run in a race all run, but one receives
the prize? Run in such a way that
you may obtain it.
And everyone who competes for
the prize is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a perishable
crown, but we for an imperishable
crown.
Therefore I run thus: not with
uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one
who beats the air.
But I discipline my body and
bring it into subjection, lest when
I have preached to others, I myself
should become disqualified.

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