9: Attributes of a Godly Mentor
Let each of you look not only to his own interests,
but also to the interests of others.
A YOUNG LEADER RECENTLY asked me what he should be looking for in a mentor.
I asked him to describe what attributes he thought this person should both embody and possess. He went on to describe someone in terms of influence, position, leadership, and entrepreneurship. I was pleased that spiritual leadership also made this young leader’s list.
I was quiet for a moment and then responded with this list of six leadership attributes. These traits characterize those whom I want to stay close to and learn from.
One who walks with God.
These people have learned to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
One who has experienced failure.
Life brings experience and there is no replacement for it. That which you would prefer to remain hidden could be your greatest gift to another.
One who has experienced crises.
Christian character is forged on the anvil of adversity.
One who has experienced pain and brokenness.
A. W. Tozer writes, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.”[1]
One who has experienced success through hardship.
These people have learned “stick-to-it-iveness.”
One who is humble.
Personally, those who have influenced me the greatest have exemplified a humble spirit.
These traits surprised my young friend since some of them are unexpected qualities.
Yet as I think of those whom I know, the most profound mentors have been those who have faced and overcame difficult circumstances. I am richer because of the mentors in my life. They were examples of Philippians 2:4, people who looked out for my interests.
I leave this week’s thoughts with one challenge for you, my readers. If this young leader approached you to be a mentor, what experiences would you want to share with him and why? Write these experiences down, if for no other reason than to reflect on how God has brought you to this point and to bask in His grace, protection, and provision for you.
You might be asked to be a mentor, or perhaps God is asking you to approach someone younger and offer to invest in him or her for a season.
In the words of one of these young leaders: “I wish I could learn more from those in the church who are older. I think they may believe that we who are young do not see any value in them. For us, the exact opposite is true.”
Questions
- Reflect on those who have invested in your life. Did they possess any of these attributes? How did this impact your life?
- Which of these attributes do you possess? What have these attributes taught you about life and about God?
- What could prevent you from using these six attributes to impact others? Could it be that they bring up past hurts or insecurities? How could you overcome this?