But few parents realize that their children are what their example and discipline have made them, and that they are responsible for the characters their children develop. If the hearts of Christian parents were in obedience to the will of Christ, they would obey the injunction of the heavenly Teacher: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” If those who profess to be followers of Christ would only do this, they would give, not only to their children, but to the unbelieving world, examples that would rightly represent the religion of the Bible. {3T 144.1}

Men få forældre indser at deres børn er hvad deres eksempel og selvkontrol har gjort dem til og at de er ansvarlige for at udvikle deres børns karakter. Hvis kristne forældres hjerter var i lydighed til Kristi vilje , ville de adlyde den Himmelske Faders formaning: »Men søg først Guds rige og hans retfærdighed, så skal alt det andet gives jer i tilgift.« Hvis dem som bekender sig til at være Kristi efterfølgere blot ville gøre dette, ville de give, ikke blot til deres børn, men til en vantro verden, eksempler der vil fremstille bibelreligionen rigtigt.