Being an Example - Nicky Gumbel

 

Your Example

Pope Francis paused for a moment after one of his general audiences to pray, embrace and lay hands on a man with neurofibromatosis, a severely disfiguring disease. The man’s face was covered in tumours. The image of the Pope’s embrace in St Peter’s Square went viral on social media, inspiring millions by his poignant example of the love of Christ. There is great power in example. It is hard to improve if we have no other model than ourselves to follow. A good example is not only inspirational, it also gives us a pattern to copy and learn from. Not only do you benefit most from following the example of others, but your example is vital if you are to have any influence on other people. Albert Schweitzer, the French theologian, philosopher and physician said, ‘Example is not the main thing in influencing others – it is the only thing.’ More depends on your walk than on your talk, what you practice than what you preach, what you do than what you say. What people see is far more important than what they hear. People do what people see. As John Maxwell writes, ‘Eighty-nine per cent of what people learn comes through visual stimulation; ten per cent through audible stimulation and one per cent through other senses... *What they hear they understand. What they see they believe!’* As we read yesterday, you are called to follow Jesus’ example in your life (1 Peter 2:21). Today we see some of the implications of this.

Proverbs 28:18–28

Walk in wisdom

Knowledge is horizontal. Wisdom is vertical – it comes down from above. To follow the example of Jesus means to walk in wisdom. Jesus walked in wisdom from his earliest days: ‘He was filled with wisdom’ (Luke 2:40). ‘People remarked, ‘What’s this wisdom that has been given him...?’ (Mark 6:2).

What does it mean to walk in wisdom? The writer of Proverbs says, ‘Walk straight – live well and be saved; a devious life is a doomed life’ (Proverbs 28:18, MSG). He goes on to say, ‘If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others’ (v.26, MSG).

It is wise to work hard rather than to ‘chase fantasies’ (v.19): ‘Work your garden – you’ll end up with plenty of food; play and party – you’ll end up with an empty plate’ (v.19, MSG).