Mentorship Through A Biblical Reflection

Mentors they have been on my mind for the last few days. I am troubled by the idea because I have sat under so many. They have and are important to my walk. When we are broken, shattered or lost they have the ability to to send us into deeper darkness or lift us out of of the mud and send us on the proper path. What is the difference? The difference is like Moses and Saul.

Saul and David had a dysfunctional mentor relationship. The Saul mentor looks for someone to help raise their own prestige. You might be treated as a star or friend for the moment but in reality you are just another stepping stone in their career, goals or dreams. Whatever you can bring to them at the time is of value to them. They will give you what you might think you need at the time or pour into you as long as you are offering something to them in return. When David first met Saul he offered him armor that did not fit. You find in this relationship that guidance and words are full of hefty promises but really offer you little help in being guarded or in growing. Later David was called to sing and help ease the Kings suffering and sleep. You find in this relationship when your mentor is down you want to help them out of it to raise them up. And if they are in a ditch they will do anything even use you as a step ladder to get out of there mess. Even if you left with the disaster to fix all by yourself. In the end the worse case scenario with this mentor is that they will sabotage your growth or hinder your success due to insecurity in their character, greed or jealousy. Like Saul with David what matters is not what God wants but there image, their own dreams and to hell with the wreckage left behind. There crown is their only goal.

Moses and Joshua were completely different mentorship. The Moses mentor cares about his relationship with God and God's people. You are the next generation and their legacy that needs to be built into. They know sometimes you can help and other times you can not because you are growing. They will always seek to build into you and give you a chance to grow even in tribulation. We see this as Moses took Joshua into the tent of meeting with him when God him talked face to face after these times Joshua would stay longer. This mentorship allows for you to go out on your own and learn. Moses sent Joshua into the promised land to scout and bring back a report. The trust there was not only dealing with building into his future but that he could be relied on for a correct report. The mentor in this relationship leads by example and is willing to put his protege before himself.  We can see many times this in Moses heart as he beseeched the Lord on the behalf of Israel. This mentor looks to protect and aid his student in his battles and endeavors. He watches and stand to give instruction and aid. The best example of this is Joshua against the Amalekites (Giants) this battle as Moses raise his hand the army under Joshua's command routed the enemy. As his arms dropped the momentum would shift it was then that Moses had Aaron and Hur aid him to ensure the victory of the people and Joshua.

Looking back I can clearly see who were Moses' in my life and who were Saul's. This can happen in ministry or in church. Some people are wolves with good intentions but wolves none the less. Some are shepherds who tend well to their people. Many a Christian have been poisoned from bad mentoring relationships pastors. ministry leader, youth leaders. It is like two typed of poison, one poison kills the faith on the believer, while the other kills the flesh bring the believer more in line with their faith and destiny in the Kingdom. It is good to reflect on which poison is in your heart because it will affect what kind of mentor you become wether it is as a father to your children or in ministry of any kind. If you are in a mentorship you should let God tell you if its healthy or not. Discernment is a great tool and if you feel you lack that the bible has great examples of good mentorships from Moses to Joshua, to Jesus and the Apostles and lastly Paul and Timothy. God clearly paints the do's and don'ts of mentorship.

As I get older I look at this because I am understanding the legacy one leaves. How we are built or are being built up will be reflected in how we build up others. This is not all in stone some people have bad mentors and because of it become great mentors and the opposite can happen also you could have great mentor but end up being a terrible one yourself. Ultimately in seeking God, meditating on his precepts and seeking wisdom we can become more then we are, were or hope to be.

Till next time Ponder, Dream, Grow and Imagine.