The online story i9news.com shares, is an encouraging understanding of good sportsmanship. In 2014, a college softball game between Eckerd College and Florida Southern College took place. A college senior’s last pitch was a home run by the opposing team. This hit would bring in 3 runs! As the batter rounded 2nd base, waving to the cheering crowds, her knee buckled. The pitcher and one of her teammates jumped into action as they wrapped the batter’s arms around their shoulders and brought her all the way to home base. This unusual display of humility, mutual respect, and concern for fellow human beings is an uplifting display of good sportsmanship, to say the least!
The opportunities to help others are often inconvenient and abundant. Consider the single mom, the widow/widower, or the poor and needy. Acts 11:26 points us to another opportunity to help others: the younger believer. How drawn are we as the church to help those in need? What keeps us from helping others with our time, genuine interest, prayers, and yes – even with our money? The areas we often point to as to what hinders us from nurturing a “helping heart” are things like: selfishness, inconvenience, pride, and greed. These all do hinder developing a “helping heart,” however, they are not the root issue. The thing that hinders a “helping heart” the most is the absence of genuine growing relationship with Jesus.
II Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” The call for growth is crucial to help others.
Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” The model for helping is Jesus.
Psalm 121:1, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” The source of help is God.
Barnabas pursues Saul. He goes looking for him. The spiritually mature believer goes looking for the newer believer to help them grow. The evidence of Barnabas’ relationship with Jesus is seen in his seeking out and helping a younger believer, Saul. Also notice, Barnabas helps Saul via serving alongside him. There is a time for formal mentoring and teaching of Bible doctrine…and then there is a time to “mentor in action.” We must purposely mentor younger believers.
FAITHFUL LEADERSHIP NURTURES A “HELPING HEART” (Acts 11:26a)
Barnabas was looking for Saul for a ministry purpose (“when he found him”). Barnabas helped Saul as he led him to bigger ministry. How are we helping our relationships grow in their relationship with Jesus?
My wife and I have talked for years about wanting to learn how to shoot a gun, but we never did anything about it. Then last weekend, we had a “Men’s Grill Out.” We ate great food and then had some fun shooting at clay pigeons. I learned real fast that many of our men are a quick and very accurate shot! Then it was my turn. My friend Bill stood beside me, and walked me through the process, as I took a shot at a clay pigeon. Several other men also gave very helpful suggestions and advice along the way. I would never learn to shoot accurately unless I started shooting under the direction of an experienced shooter.
We can talk about a deeper relationship with Jesus. We can study about a deeper relationship with Jesus. We can even theorize about a deeper relationship with Jesus. However, there comes a point when we must actually pursue living a deeper relationship with Jesus with the advantage of an experienced, more mature Christian guiding us along the way.
FAITHFUL SERVICE GUIDES A HELPING HEART (11:26b)
Barnabas and Saul are pursuing a deeper relationship with Jesus in the practical arena of service. Take a look at the characteristics of their ministry.
Their ministry was long term (a whole year)
Their ministry was church centered
Their ministry was Bible teaching
Their ministry was impactful (called Christians)
A spiritual mentor is defined as “a wise and trusted counselor.” The Bible does not use the word mentor, but it does have numerous examples of mentoring younger believers. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, mentored Moses (Ex. 18). Eli mentored Samuel (I Sam. 1-4). Jesus mentored his disciples (Lk. 9). Even Barnabas and Saul were proficient mentors (Acts 9-15).
Jesus said it this way in Matthew 16:24, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Jesus led so we would follow.
So, what are the important elements of mentoring a younger believer?
1. SUBMISSION TO CHRIST.
Jesus has set mentor relationship pacing and direction. The godly mentor does not have their own agenda. Jesus already set the agenda.
2. DEPENDENCE ON THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The mentor needs the Holy Spirit to guide the process, to provide wisdom and insight, to teach, and to convince of truth along the mentor pathway. (Jn. 14:26; 16:13; Rom. 8:26; I Cor. 2:10)
3. A CLEAR STANDARD.
I Corinthians 11:1 reminds us that the mentor is only to be followed as far as you see Jesus in them. Although we as mentors are flawed, we must teach the truth of the Bible and provide an example to follow (Phil. 4:9; II Thess. 3:7). The moment we choose the “do what I say and not what I do” method, the mentor relationship will be in jeopardy and the hypocrisy will stir rebellion in the younger believer.
4. MAINTAIN TRUST.
Keep channels of open communication and be honest (but communicate with love – Eph. 4:15). However, the key element of maintaining trust is to maintain confidentiality. The mentor and the one being mentored will be sin problems to work through. We all have sin problems to work through! Transparency is key to growth; however, security is key to transparency. If one does not feel secure that a mentor can keep his lips sealed, they will not be transparent, and the viability of the mentor relationship becomes questionable.
5. SEEK HELP.
A mentor is not able to be the fountain of knowledge on every situation needing to be worked through. So, be aware of a network of help to recommend. A possible network of help could include your pastor, a deacon, an older Christian in the church, or a Christian professional that you know well and trust (i.e. – a Christian insurance agent, a Christian financial advisor, or a Christian tax accountant). Side note: the trusted Christian professional you seek out would depend on which issue you are needing help to advise. Second side note: when seeking advise outside of the mentor relationship, be careful to keep the confidentiality of the relationship the best you can. Of course, if there is a law broken or the issues have become too deep for your comfort zone, suggest setting up a meeting with you, the one you are mentoring, and your pastor or a trained counselor.
6. ASK QUESTIONS.
There is a time to teach and talk, however, the mentor needs to learn how to ask questions that would aid the one being mentored. For example, we tend to take the short cut or the direct approach and tell them they need to do “A,” “B,” and “C” to solve this problem. Instead, consider asking them, “What do you think you should do to solve this problem? What have you tried thus far? Do you think what you are doing is working? What are two concrete actions you could choose to do this week to work on this issue?” Unfortunately, a person does not always get to the conclusions they need to get to when answering these types of questions. Yet, it is more helpful to them spiritually and mentally if they can see the light when answering these revealing questions. So, do not rush this process. Give them opportunity to consider the level of transparency they are willing to reveal – and be willing to sit in silence for a few seconds while they work through it in their head.
William Booth was greatly stirred by the needs of the poor of London and realized that most churches were doing nothing to reach the “undesirables”—drunkards, morphine addicts, prostitutes, and the poor. He set out to reach them with what he called the 3 S’s: soup, soap and salvation. Thousands were saved among those that most churches had no interest in reaching. Booth gave his life for the cause of reaching others.
In his 80s, Booth’s work began to be hindered by blindness. He briefly lost his sight and then recovered it, but later he lost his vision permanently. His son Bramwell came to bring him the bad news that he would never see again. Booth replied, “God must know best, Bramwell. I have done what I could for God and the people with my eyes. Now I shall do what I can for God and the people without my eyes.” Source: The General: William Booth, Volume 2, David Bennet
By God’s grace, may we all yield to follow Jesus’ example and mentor younger believers to follow Him.