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.