By Caro June 24, 2022
We live in a world of information. We swim in an abundance of knowledge. So much so that we no longer see the need for a mentor. Yet the Bible strongly encourages this practice.
Have you ever wondered why fishermen simply decide to abandon their nets, their profession, to follow a man who invites them to walk with him? To understand, you have to look a little at the Jewish tradition. All the little Jewish boys studied the scriptures, and Jesus excelled in this area. So much so that he acquired a great reputation and was considered a master, a rabbi. Lawyers called him “Rabbi” (Matthew 22:35-36), and common people did too (Luke 12:13), just as the Pharisees (Luke 19:39), and the Sadducees (Luke 20:27-28).
Since the law was taught orally at the time, students sought a master to teach them. When they found one that inspired them, they began to follow him. On rare occasions, a master would approach a person and offer to mentor them. That was a great honor because generally it was the student who approached the master, not the other way around. The student had to be exceptional to be approached by the master. So when Jesus approached the fishermen, it was a great honor for them, which they could not refuse. To make a comparison today, we could imagine the CEO of a large company approaching a parking attendant to tell him that he was going to make him his apprentice. “You did not choose me; I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name” (John 15:16 NCV).
Having Christ as a mentor is the ultimate experience, which also requires an ultimate sacrifice. But today we can still look for a mentor in different areas of our lives and follow the example of success. A mentor is more than a teacher because they teach us not only by their words but also by their actions and experience. Our mentor cannot be a social media personality; they are someone who knows us personally, in our complexity, and who can give us individual advice. They are someone who has had success in an area that we have not mastered and to whom we give the right to criticize us and to give us homework.
The apostle Paul was a mentor to Timothy, but Paul had Ananias as a mentor upon his conversion (Acts 9:11-19). The book of Proverbs is filled with verses that recommend the sons to listen to the voice of wisdom and the elders. Just as an Olympic athlete could not develop to their full potential without a coach, we must remember that we need to choose good mentors to push us beyond our limits toward success. That is the case for our physical health, for the healing of our soul, but also for our dating life! It’s good to have a married couple to turn to for advice or to warn us of challenges ahead. Having a mentor couple who are happily married, and have a union that glorifies God allows us to have a healthy and balanced picture of our next step. Let’s stop thinking we can do everything on our own, and let’s be wise and humble enough to seek guidance. And not only advice read in magazines, but practical tips tailor-made for us by someone who knows us well.
It is also the person to whom we choose to be accountable to. One of the best ways to stay on track with our goals is to present our results regularly. If we know we’re going to have to tell our mentor about the bad decisions we’ve made, we’re going to think twice about indulging. This principle is found in some of the weight loss diets that work best. That is also advised by James 5:16 (NCV). “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. When a believing person prays, great things happen.”
Finally, we must all seek to become wiser so that one day we ourselves can be a model to imitate. If we know that another person is watching, we will pay more attention to our actions to make sure we make the right choices. “Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life” (1 Timothy 4:12 NCV).