The impact of living your life in front of your children …

For a long time there’s been a tendency in the church to believe modeling (how we live) is more important than actual teaching.

I strongly disagree with that, BUT …

Before we get to the “but,” it’s important to note Christ’s command to us is to “make disciples” of all of the nations, and then TEACH them (Mt. 28:18-20). We prefer to skip the evangelism part of that command — which actually initially “makes disciples” — and we often forego the literal teaching part, preferring instead to rely on the example of our lives — a huge mistake, considering how often they are unholy and inconsistent examples.

The power of changing a life is in the Word of God, which must be proclaimed — spoken, preached, taught.

Now for the “but” …

We can taint the believability of what we teach if how we live contradicts what we say. A well-lived life that is a demonstration of what you teach makes for the most powerful impact on others who both hear and observe you. The Apostle Paul instructed Titus to harmonize his teaching with the example of how he lived: “And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching,” Titus 2:7.

The same is true for parents, who want to do much more than raise polite citizens but aim, through the work of the Holy Spirit and the teaching of the Word of God, to raise faithful and obedient disciples of Jesus. Parents need to teach their children at home, but because of their younger ages and cognitive development, how you live your lives strongly supports or derails what you teach. Children NEED a living example to best understand how to live out what is taught, but they need what is taught as a vital anchor for when how you live is a contradiction.

To stir your consideration of how your children learn just by your living your lives in front of them, here’s an insightful tidbit written by Mary Rita Schilke Korzan:

When you thought I wasn’t looking you hung my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I wanted to paint another.

When you thought I wasn’t looking you fed a stray cat,
and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you baked a birthday cake just for me,
and I knew that little things were special things.

When you thought I wasn’t looking you said a prayer,
and I believed there was a God that I could always talk to.

When you thought I wasn’t looking you kissed me goodnight,
and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw tears come from your eyes,
and I learned that sometimes things hurt – but that it’s all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking you smiled,
and it made me want to look that pretty, too.

When you thought I wasn’t looking you cared,
and I wanted to be everything I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked …
and wanted to say thanks for all those things you did when you thought I wasn’t looking.

Parents, open your Bibles and teach your children in your homes. But also remember that simply living your life in front of your children makes a deep imprint on their lives. Let how you live harmonize with what you teach, doing both to the glory of God and for the godly instruction of your children.

Scotty