The Bible contains many examples of older people mentoring younger generations, helping them become stronger disciples. Every follower of God is called upon to mentor or disciple others. As we invest time and energy in the lives of others, we grow spiritually.
Moses, the great Israelite leader of the Exodus, was mentored by Jethro, his father-in-law. Moses married one of Jethro’s daughters and spent the next 40 years tending the flocks of Jethro. During this time, they had time to learn from each other.
Later in Moses’ life, we see that because he had disobeyed God, he was not allowed to go into the Promised Land. God spoke to Moses and told him to appoint Joshua as leader over the community who would lead the people in times of war and peace. Moses had mentored Joshua from his earliest days in the wilderness. The sheep needed a shepherd, and Joshua was appointed to be the leader.
In 1 Samuel we see that Eli, a judge and high priest, had failed with his own two sons, but he had succeeded with the boy Samuel. They spent hours together talking about the ways of the Lord. While sleeping one night, Samuel had a vision from the Lord. Eli demanded he be told the vision and Samuel revealed what the Lord said.
New Testament examples
Saul — later Paul — was feared by Christians. In the Book of Acts after Paul became a believer, Barnabas became his mentor and vouched for him before the Church.
Also in the New Testament, we see Timothy receiving guidance from his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois. He accompanied Paul on a missionary journey where he would learn from Paul in daily living.
You can probably think of examples in your own life or community — those who mentored you.
Stephen, a successful businessman in Tennessee, was grateful to God for his profitable business, so in order to “pay it forward” and share his knowledge, he felt led to mentor a small group of students at a local Christian college. One weekend each month, Stephen and his wife volunteer their time to meet with these students.
He also provides scholarship assistance to several students in this department. Attendance is not mandatory; they attend on a nonobligatory basis. Together, they discuss how to be successful in business while following God’s rules for how to live and how to make a living.
How mentoring affects the mentor
Stephen said that when he was a child, the men of his church took an interest in him and offered Christian guidance.
“I was always wanting more, never afraid to ask questions,” he said. “As I became an adult, I often asked myself if God gave me the spiritual gift of teaching.”
Young men started to come to him for advice. “I could see myself in them.”
Young people can spot authenticity in a person. They know when a mentor is being truthful. They know when they’re being honest in teaching Christian principles.
Students recognize a mentor who has an inflated ego, which Stephen labels as “easing God out.”
Stephen said many books and published materials are written in the third person, telling what someone else did. He believes effective teaching is spoken in the first person, telling how “I” did something and what God did in “my” life.
Winston Churchill, former prime minister of the United Kingdom, said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
The mentor is blessed in many ways. We all have a desire to be needed, and when a young person listens to you, it enables this yearning to be fulfilled.
The mentor does not make decisions for the mentee or learner. Instead, he or she should ask what the Lord is telling the person about this and if he or she has prayed about this decision. God needs to be the one to convince the mentee, not the mentor.
How mentoring affects the mentee
Young people who are mentored should be taught to rely on Romans 8:31 — “If God is for us, who can be against us?” — and to prayerfully ask the Lord for wisdom. In 1 Kings 3:10, we see that God delights to give wisdom to those who truly seek it.
A group being mentored forms strong bonds with one another. They stay in touch in their professional lives. But one of the greatest aspects as they grow into career-minded adults is that they become mentors to other young people, and they share what they’ve learned and what they would do differently if they had a second chance. According to McCarthy Mentoring, 89% of those mentored go on to also mentor, which contributes to a culture of learning.
Scriptures that support mentoring
- Proverbs 27:17
- Titus 2:3–5
- 1 Peter 5:1–5
- Proverbs 22:6
- 2 Timothy 2:2
- Psalm 145:4
- Psalm 71:18
- Proverbs 9:9
- Proverbs 13:20
- 1 Corinthians 11:1
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