Thursday June 16, 2022

Topic: Making Friends The Right Way: Mentor-Mentee Relationship

Scripture References: 1 Sam 3:1-9; 19:1-6.

Exposition:

This is the kind of friendship between an older, knowledgeable and experienced person and an up and coming younger person in any field. This time the older person sows knowledge, life experiences and lessons to guide the younger person. Care has to be taken in this kind of friendship because one could easily become proud or puffed up as he is seen as the teacher or the boss who mostly gives instructions. Rather, it could be seen as the opportunity and privilege to help shape the life of a younger person for God’s purposes to be done.

King Saul had such a beautiful opportunity to shape and mentor the next king of Israel, David, but was rather intimidated by the grace upon the life of David and instead ended up as an enemy. In spite of the successes of David, he needed a mentor to teach him how to become a king and in my view God chose King Saul. Saul was to teach David how to organise an army for battles, deal with inter-state relationships and many protocols in the palace. These are known through experience and not how anointed one is.

This is just like how God decided to speak to Samuel but He needed Eli to teach him how to identify the voice of God. David ended up rather teaching King Saul how not to touch the anointed of God. Paul

was also successful in sowing into the life of Timothy into becoming

a great leader and a Minister.

The lesson we can learn from this is that, as one decides to sow into the life of a younger person, one has to be careful not to be taken over by jealousy or hatred as some of the God-given abilities of some younger people suggest a brighter future, however they must see the mentoring process as an opportunity to be part of the success story of the younger person.

Prayer Guide: Father, In Jesus’ name, I ask for the grace to mentor

someone with humility and patience. Amen.

Memory Verse For This Week:

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV) – Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”