What Our Example Can Teach

There are many valuable lessons that can be taught most effectively when oral instruction is coupled with a good example. Consider a few.

Expressing unselfish love: One of the most important lessons to be fortified by example is the meaning of love. "We love, because [God]first loved us." ( 1John4:19) He is the Source and supreme example of love. This principled love, a-ga'pe, is mentioned in the Bible more than 100 times. It is a quality that identifies true Christians. (John 13:35) Such love is to be shown toward God and Jesus Christ and also by humans toward one another - even toward humans for whom we may not feel a fondness. (Matthew 5:44, 45; 1John 5:3) This love must be in our hearts and evident in our lives before we can effectively teach it to our children. Actions speak louder than words. Within the family, children need to see and experience love and related qualities, such as affection. Without these things, the development of a child is stunted physically, mentally and emotionally. Children also need to see how love and affection are properly manifested toward fellow Christians outside the family.- Romans 12:10; 1Peter 3:8

Learning how to work: Work is a fundamental aspect of life. To have a feeling of self-worth, a person needs to learn how to do good work. (Ecclesiastes 2:24; 2Thessalonians 3:10) If a child is assigned tasks for which he has had very little instruction and then is scolded for not doing them well, it is unlikely that he will learn to do good work. But when children learn by actually working alongside their parents and are given suitable commendation, they are more likely to learn to do work that brings satisfaction. If the parents' example is coupled with explanation, the children may learn not only how to get a job done, but also how to overcome problems, how to stick to a job until it is done, and how to reason and make decisions. In this setting they can be helped to appreciate that Jehovah also works, that he does good work, and that Jesus imitates his Father. (Genesis 1:31; Proverbs 8:27-31; John 5:17) If a family does farming or operates a business, some of the family members may work together. Or perhaps the mother can teach her son or daughter to cook and clean up after a meal. A father whose employment is away from the house can plan to work on projects at home with his children. How beneficial it is when the parents have in mind not merely getting immediate jobs done, but equipping the children for life!

Maintaining faith in the face of adversity: Faith too is a vital aspect of our lives. When faith is discussed in a family study, the children my learn to define it. They may also become aware of evidence that causes faith to begin to grow in their hearts. But when they see their parents showing unshakable faith in the face of severe trials, the effect may last for a lifetime. A Bible studen in Panama was threatened by her husband with expulsion from their house if she did not stop serving Jehovah. Still, with her four children, she regularly walked 10 miles and then rode a bus for another 20 miles to get to the nearest Kingdom Hall. Encouraged by that example, some 20 members of her family have embraced the way of the truth.

Next time: Setting An Example In Daily Bible Reading