In everything set them an example by doing what is good. (Titus 2:7)
Expanded Passage: Titus 2:6-8
When Dr. William J. Bennett was secretary of education under President Ronald Reagan, his wife, Elayne, encouraged him to visit schools and teach classes.
“While we were still courting,” Bennett explained, “she had seen me teach high school classes in Portland, Maine. When I became education secretary, she told me, ‘You’re a good teacher and people will take you more seriously if they see you doing what you’re talking about. In addition to talking about education, why don’t you go out and show people you can teach somebody something?’” Dr. Bennett resisted her suggestion, saying, “I don’t do retail now, I do wholesale.” She persisted, saying, “If you do some retail you’ll do better wholesale.”
In other words, it’s one thing to teach by talking. It’s another to teach by example.
The apostle Paul knew this, which is why he urged Titus to set an example for the young men. Good behavior is not only taught; it is “caught.” Paul hoped that Titus would spread the power of an example by making it contagious enough that the young men would become “infected” and impacted.
Whatever your age, you can set an example. Humanitarian and philosopher Albert Schweitzer believed in the power of example so much that he said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.”
Don’t just talk the talk. Walk the walk and lead by example.
Ron McClung is a retired minister in The Wesleyan Church who enjoys writing and loves interacting with his large family.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
