MENTORING

In all things showing yourself a PATTERN of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility – Titus 2:7

MENTORING provides an individualized approach to learning. It is a relational experience in which one person empowers another by sharing God-given resources. It is the relationship and process, by which someone (mentor) teaches, nurtures, counsels, guides or advises another person (mentee) in a certain set of skills or a life area. Although the word “mentor” doesn’t appear in the Bible, it is biblical, being closely related to the concept and practice of Christian discipling, and there are numerous mentoring models in the Bible. The Great Commission is actually a mentoring mission: “Go therefore and MAKE DISCIPLES of all the nations, baptizing them…TEACHING them…” (Mt.28:19-20). A mentor is a wise and trusted counsellor or teacher; while a mentee is a disciple or follower. Jesus mentored the Twelve – “His own who were in the world” – to know Him, and through Him, to know the Father; as well as to represent God's love in the world (Jh.13:1).

Paul the apostle was a mentor to many leaders in the early churches. His principle was: “the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). He wrote: “So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us” (1The.2:8). To the Philippians: “The things which you LEARNED and RECEIVED and HEARD and SAW in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil.4:9). What a bold declaration by a Model Mentor. His mentees not only learned, received, and heard from him, they SAW him live out all he taught. He challenged the Corinthians: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1Cor.11:1). Christ is the ultimate Model we should follow, and point others to. As we mature in faith and love, we should seek to mentor others and help them mature in Christ (Col.1:28).

Fathers mentor sons, as was the case between Paul the apostle and Timothy, his son in the faith (2Tim.2:1). He taught Timothy to “be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1Tim.4:12). Parents are meant to be their children’s first mentors: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Pro.22:6; Dt.6:4-9). A significant proportion of the skills children acquire are learned by imitating others. Accelerating the application of such acquired skills and knowledge is usually in the domain of the mentor. Mentoring is however not limited to children’s upbringing. The bulk of what we learn in life is acquired from others; hence the University of Life and the School of the Spirit have their tutors and professors (Gal. 4:1-6). We can also be mentored in specific areas of life such as: finding God’s will in life, relationships, courtship, marriage, parenting, profession, business, and ministry.

Elderly Christian women are encouraged to “admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (Tit.2:4-5). The same posture is expected of older men towards younger ones (vv.2,6). Titus himself was expected to be a Model or Pattern of good works (v.7). Peter also commanded Christian elders to be mentors to their flocks (1Pet.5:2-3). Mentoring is an opportunity to rub minds with the wise: “He who walks with wise men will be wise…” (Pro.13:20a). Friends can also mutually mentor one another: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Pro.27:17). God has many potential mentors in His Church besides those who are called ministers, to meet the diverse mentoring needs in His world.

Mentoring is using your torch to pass on the light to others’ torches. Are you an isolated torch? Who is your mentor…and your mentee? Whose torch is your torch in touch with? Who are you are receiving light from or passing on the light to?