After almost 30 years in ministry, one thing I have seen time and time again is that pretty much everyone is a mentor of someone. You are a mentor to one who is just a few years behind you on a path they want to go. Rather it be in at work, at the gym, or in other social outlets, we see these relationships everywhere.
The other thing I have seen time and time again, is the mentor has no clue that they are mentoring. They think they are just going through the day as usual while those watching them take everything they do in.
I’ll give you an example. When putting together a team to work with a high school youth group, I love have leaders of all ages. They all bring different strengths to the table. However, I do notice that the teens will pay a little extra attention to the leaders in their 20s because they know that is the next stage in their life. They watch them to see what is next in their life.
At the same time, I can take these same teens into our kid’s ministry and the kid’s get excited because they have access to those they see as the next stage in their life. The teens become the mentors.
This is one of the reasons that I believe Paul taught Titus to set up mentorship in the church at Crete. In Titus 2: 3-5, he instructs for older women to train the younger woman how to take care of family, be self controlled, be pure, be kind and much more. As the older woman were to be reverent (vs 3), they were also to look back to those on the path behind them to guide their ways.
In a world where there are 30 year olds are posting junior high Facebook statuses, we need mindful and reverent mentors!
If you’re heart is to make a difference in the world, may I suggest taking a moment and prayerfully consider a few things to help narrow your focus today.
1. Who is walking behind you?
As many mentors are unaware that others are watching them, take a moment and consider who is watching you. Consider your children, your friends, people at work, siblings, others at church, and others. You may be surprised who is looking to you as a text book for their next steps.
2. What path are you on?
If others are following you, it would be wise to consider your path. Is it worthy of others following you on? Is it leading to a healthy life with Christ or pain, destruction, and compromise? If you’re on a bad path, choose a new one.
3. Resist thinking “No one follows me”.
I know many will read this thinking it doesn’t really matter because no one watches you. Trust me. They do!
They watch your attitude. They watch your actions. They hear your words. You are being a mentor rather or not it is a positive mentorship.
4. Be mindful.
Lead others to where God want to lead you. That takes community, study, choices, and perseverance. You can not do it alone but you can by the power of the Holy Spirit that is in you if you have accepted Christ into your life as your leader and forgiver.
Please take a few moments and ponder this. You can make game changing decisions today but only if you come off auto pilot and make wise decisions to lead well!
“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” I Peter 5: 5-7
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