Finding a mentor (2)
2020-12-04Exodus 18:19 NCV
In Exodus 18 we read: ‘Moses solved disagreements among the people, and the people stood around him from morning until night…Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “You are not doing this right…This is too much work for you; you can’t do it by yourself…I will give you some advice. I want God to be with you…Choose some capable men…Make these men officers over the people…Let these officers solve the disagreements…They can bring the hard cases to you, but they can decide the simple cases themselves. That will make it easier for you, because they will share the work with you”‘ (v.13-23 NCV).
The advice from Jethro (Moses’ father -in-law) in this passage highlights another example of what a good mentor should do. 1) He took an interest in Moses’ work, and understood the challenges Moses faced. Jethro had seen the number of people Moses had to deal with, and asked him questions about what he was doing (take a look at v.14-15).
2) He cared about Moses’ welfare and his relationship with God. Jethro was concerned that Moses would burn himself out, but also wanted Moses to continue following God’s will.
3) He was honest with Moses, and offered a practical solution to his problem. Jethro wasn’t afraid to tell Moses that he was handling things the wrong way, and gave him advice to help him improve the way he worked.
4) He taught Moses a valuable skill. Jethro encouraged Moses to delegate (a skill that people often find difficult).
When we’re looking for a mentor, we need to look for someone who we can trust, who takes an interest in us, and who’s willing to be honest and offer advice and teaching. Above all, a mentor should care about us and our relationship with God, and encourage us to be the best we can be.