Ezekiel 23:31
"Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand."
The key to being successful in any area of life is finding the right role model. If I wanted to build a hamburger franchise, I would find a successful burger franchise and follow their model. If I wanted to build a successful family, I would find someone whose family is functional and happy and I would follow their model. Following the right model is so important to successful longevity and blessing.
God tells Ezekiel about two sisters who lived destructive lives. The oldest sister left the blessed paths to follow a life of impurity. God punished this older sister for her sinful ways by putting her life in bondage. The younger sister should have known better than to make her older sister a model to follow. Yet, the verse above says, "Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister..." This younger sister chose the wrong role model and the result was that God gave "her cup into thine hand." In other words, God made her experience the same punishment of her sister.
It is vitally important in your life that you don't choose the wrong role model. Whether it is a business that you are trying to start or a life you are trying to build, finding the right role model is critical to how it will turn out. Just because the role model you choose is popular doesn't make it right. You must realize that whoever or whatever you choose to make your model will ultimately determine your outcome.
Moreover, you must be careful about choosing the right model for your lifestyle. Just because the lifestyle you're living may not be the "in" lifestyle doesn't make your lifestyle wrong. One thing I have learned about lifestyles is that they are trendy. What is the "in" lifestyle today will be the "out-of-date" lifestyle tomorrow. You shouldn't choose a lifestyle because it is popular, but you should choose it because it is right.
Furthermore, you must be careful with having the right model of associations. I've often told people that you are only as strong as your weakest association. Your associations are your identity. You may say that you are not something, but why do you run with those who are what you say you are not? You can't rub yourself with the swine without coming out smelling like one. If you don't want to have the smell of a wrong crowd or person, then don't associate with them.
The key to choosing the right model in these areas is to look at what cup is in their hand. This younger sister should have seen that the cup in her older sister's hand brought bondage and heartache. Instead of looking at the popular acceptance of a person, lifestyle or association, why not look at what these have brought in the past? They all have an end, and choosing your model should be determined by the end results and not the immediate gratification.
What models are you following in every area of life? Are they Christ-honoring models? Do their actions, teachings and philosophies agree with the Word of God? I encourage you to take a close look at every role model, lifestyle and association you follow. Be sure that what they produce is something of which God would approve. God gives us models to follow; it is our responsibility to be sure to find those godly models.