In life and in faith, it is important to have good mentors and advisers. This helps us to grow in faith in Jesus and to navigate successfully through life with all its blessings and challenges. Proverbs 22:6 declares,
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Here we learn it is important to model and help a child to grow in faith in Jesus and to grow in their recognition and use of their God-given gifts in service to God and his people. We model and teach faith in Jesus Christ as we serve as mentors to those around us. Doing this is meant to be a blessing to both mentor and mentee. Sometimes we even end up switching roles or going back and forth as we grow in faith and learn together.
The need to mentor and be mentored doesn’t end with childhood. In the apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy we learn of Timothy who became a strong leader in the early church. He first grew in faith in Jesus through the faith of his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice and was now being encouraged by Paul. What a blessing to have such support in life. He accompanied Paul for a while and became a pastor in Ephesus. All along the journey he was supported by the guidance of others as he needed it. This helped smooth the way for him to be a leader in the Church.
We all need encouragement from time to time. The early church knew this as well as anyone. They had one person who was particularly gifted as an encourager. His name used to be Joseph. He was so good at encouraging others that they changed his name to Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” This was his special gift even more so than others so that when churches and individuals really needed encouragement in faith and life they sent him. This didn’t mean that things always went smoothly. Just like they don’t always go smoothly now. Barnabas and Paul served together for many years and in many ways. When Paul wanted to go with Barnabas to visit and support other believers they had met, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark. Paul was against it because on one of their journeys John Mark had deserted them. Barnabas saw his potential and thought he deserved another chance. Their disagreement was so sharp that they went on separate journeys. God used their disagreement to get two missionary journeys and John Mark the second chance he needed to grow in his faith and service. Isn’t it wonderful that we serve a God of second chances?
Even the wisest among us need good advisors and mentors. In 2 Kings chapter 18:5-7a, we learn about King Hezekiah and some of the challenges he faced. The Bible tells us;
“Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after. He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following Him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.”
Even King Hezekiah, as great of a king and faithful follower of God as he was, needed and was supplied with mentors and advisors including the prophet Isaiah. God encourages us both to seek out and to be mentors in faith and life so that all might grow and be guided in their faith walk with Jesus, use their God given gifts in service to Him and his people, and be the blessings we are meant to be.
We would like to encourage you to be both blessed and to be a blessing by being involved in a local church. You have many options because God is active throughout our communities.
Thanks for being a “Barnabas” to someone.
