Proverbs 20:11 “Even a young man is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.”    

We have all heard that a leader should “Practice What You Preach.”  This is a timeless principle of leadership which produces example, credibility, trust and respect for a leader.  It is also a product of integrity and the most recognized principle of leadership “to lead by example.”  It invokes three important words:  1) Practice: means to apply, use, do, show, behave, act and demonstrate; 2) You: This means that you personally and actively lead whomever you are supposed to lead and; 3) Preach: This includes your values, beliefs, words, accountability and actions.  To practice what we preach is simply to do what we say and expect of those we lead to do.  It is the team spirit that starts at the top with you and sets the whole environment and behavior of those you lead. 

People always look to the leader to see what they should and should not be doing.  If they shouldn’t be doing something, then you shouldn’t.  They are looking to see if you are a man of your word and values.  Jesus is our example who always did what he preached and asked others to do.  His words, actions and values confirmed his character and showed us how to lead.  Those whom you lead in your family, work and church will be impacted by how faithful you are to “practice what you preach.”  Look at the last words in our verse which answers this question and leaves the question in your heart, “Whether your conduct is pure and upright?”  Words are just words unless we live and lead by them with a character and conduct that backs them up.