Examples Set, Examples Followed

(Proverbs 1:8 KJV)  My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

There is a commercial I have seen on TV and the theme is acting like your parents without being aware of it.  I cannot remember what the product was but it was an entertaining 30 seconds.  We tend to act like our parents.  It comes through more clearly when we get older.  That should be a good thing.  This verse encourages us to listen to what our parents are trying to teach us.  I think that has two extensions.

Listen to what they do.  I am sure that my father gave me verbal lessons but the important distinction is that he lived what he spoke.  As I search to find why so many children stray from their parents teaching I wonder if the elders in question were not the same in private that they were in public.  I hesitate to judge them but I hasten to judge myself so that I can avoid their heartache.

Walk in the path they outline.  It doesn’t do much good knowing how to wash clothes if you just leave them on the floor for someone else to take care of.  My parents are both gone but I hope I still walk in the light they gave me.

Of course many people have parents that do not set a good example.  That is where the church should be serving its purpose.  This is where spiritual parents step in and try to fill the gap.

So?  Follow your righteous teachers.  Be a righteous teacher.  People watch you.  Some are your children and some are pretty much strangers but you have an influence on all.