The Influence Exerted By Example

In addition to verbal instruction, example has a profound influence on young ones. Whether parents like it or not, their children are going to imitate them. It may please the parents - sometimes it may shock them - when they hear their children say things like they themselves have said. When both the conduct and the attitude of the parents can reflect deep appreciation for spiritual matters, this exercises a positive influence on the children.-Proverbs 20:7.

The effect of parental example is well illustrated in the Bible. Jephthah, who was used by Jehovah to lead Israel to victory over the Ammonites, was also a father. The record of his reply to the king of Ammon indicates that Jephthah must frequently have read the history of Jehovah's dealings with Israel. He could quote that history freely, and he showed strong faith in Jehovah. No doubt, his example helped his daughter to develop the faith and self-sacrificing spirit that she displayed in undertaking a lifetime of service as a single woman devoted to Jehovah. - Judges 11:14-27, 34-40; compare Joshua 1:8.

Samuel was exemplary as a child and faithful to God as a prophet throughout his life. Would you like your children to turn out as he did? Analyze the example set by Samuel's parents, Elkanah and Hannah. Though the situation in their household was not perfect, they regularly went up to Shiloh for worship, to the place where the sacred tabernacle was located. (1Samuel 1:3-8, 21) Take note of the depth of feeling with which Hannah prayed. (1Samuel 1:9-13) Observe how both of them felt about the importance of fulfilling any promise made to God. (1Samuel 1:22-28) Their fine example undoubtedly helped Samuel to develop the qualities that enabled him to pursue a right course - even when People around him was supposedly served Jehovah showed no respect for God's ways. In time, Jehovah entrusted Samuel with responsibility as His prophet. - 1 Samuel 2:11, 12; 3:1-21.

Would you like your son to become like Timothy, who as a young man became an associate of the apostle Paul? Timothy's father was not a believer, but his mother and his grandmother set a fine example of appreciation for spiritual things. This no doubt helped to lay a good foundation for Timothy's life as a Christian. We are told that his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother Lois had "faith". . . without any hypocrisy." Their lives as Christians were not playacting; they really lived in harmony with what they professed to believe, and they taught young Timothy to do the same. Timothy proved that he was dependable and that he genuinely cared about the welfare of other. - 2Timothy 1:5; Philippians 2:20-22.

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