If my children follow my example, what kind of people will they be? Will they be faithful or unfaithful? Generous or stingy? Content or complaining? If every marriage has mine as its example, will people be happily married? If every church member were just like me, what kind of church would this church be? If every employee were just like me... I could go on and on, but the point is "Faith without works is dead."
A faith that does not manifest itself in every area of my life is not saving faith. The first thing the Lord said to each of the seven churches in Asia was, "I know thy works." It is our works that prove the reality of our faith. The example we give is what we really are!