Mentor

There are several different types of relationships in the Bible.

Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Timothy, well as Naomi and Ruth are a few examples of mentoring.

The word mentor means: ” a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.” https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mentor

The Bible records Naomi giving Ruth counsel in the book of Ruth 3:1-6.

I Kings 19:19-21 Records Elisha becoming Elijah’s servant, a job of training which led to Elisha stepping into Elijah’s prophetic position after Elijah is taken to heaven.

Even Moses was given counsel by his father-in-law:

“Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.” Exodus 18:19‭-‬22 NKJV

He was telling Moses to mentor or train others and therefore spread the responsibility of judging the people.

Mentorship is valuable.

It means taking time to pour into another that which the Lord has taught.

To be purposeful about passing on those things which have been gleaned from the Word of God.

To look for opportunity to sow seeds of faith, trust, and wisdom into another.

To mentor means to live outside one’s own needs and to allow the Lord to love through you to others in a personal long term friendship.

It’s a chance to teach, and an opportunity to receive the joy of watching another grow in Christ Jesus.

And it’s meant to be passed on.

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
II Timothy 2:2 NKJV

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:9 NKJV

Times and seasons differ, but mentorship is a gift, whether you are the one mentoring or the one being mentored, or both.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for the examples You give of this kind of friendship. Lord, thank You for giving us those who can teach and train is as well as those You would have us teach and train. Please help us to be wise, purposeful about those who look up to us, whether at work or home or in our community. Please help us to be people of integrity who reach out to love, nurture, and instruct those around them. Lord Jesus, thank You for being our example in all things. Help us to love others as You do. Amen.

Father/Mentor

“Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba.” 2 Chronicles 24:1

Joash had a very unusual life. His grandmother had ordered the murder of all his brothers and him so she could wipe out the royal line and rule the kingdom herself.

She almost succeeded.

Joash’s aunt saved him and his nurse and took him to be raised in secret.

The man who raised Joash, and organized it so that he was placed in his proper position as king at seven years of age, was a man named Jehoiada.

Reading through the account of Joash’s life it becomes clear that he did very well as king the entire time Jehoiada was a live and guiding him.

While Joash had a good mentor/father he did well, made wise choices, and seemed to be the king he was meant to be.

Unfortunately things changed after Jehoiada’s death.

Joash did not finish well and it seems to point to the fact that he lacked the advice and wisdom of Jehoiada.

The place of father/mentor is extremely important.

A daddy can make such an impact for good or bad in their children.

A mentor can bless and encourage even if the “child” is an adult.

My own father died when I was 22.

Since then I have been blessed by different older gentlemen who have poured into my life in one way or another.

I never tire of hearing my father-in-law refer to me by my childhood nickname.

The advice I have gleaned from the perspective of 70 years of life have helped me to see past the present.

A friendly, “How are you doing?” or “I and my wife are praying for you.” can make the difference in my stress level.

But I know it is much more than how I have been blessed.

I have watched the impact my husband has on our four children.

The way he has taken other boys in and loved them by fishing and hunting trips.

Even now there is a young man that has stated more than once,

“When Jered dies, I have to speak at his funeral. I don’t want it to happen for a really long time but I don’t want you to forget, I need to be there.”

And I know the real impact is in the little things which seem to mean nothing at the time.

It is so special to see our son and another little boy (who has been on many fishing trips) atop my hubby as they watch a movie in the recliner.

There is just something so valuable about a good father/mentor.

And I am very aware that they are few.

Many a prayer has been said for those in our lives or we have heard of that have no such blessing.

But I am hopeful for those who have no mentor/father.

For when I have been in want of such the Lord has always been that voice of guidance through His word, the comfort of knowing He is strong and mighty, and the peace of remembering there are still men who walk in the footsteps of Jesus.