2024-10-14
1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV
Your mentor should not only demonstrate professional excellence and possess skills from which you can learn, but must also be someone who displays character qualities worth imitating. Bernie Madoff was one of the most admired and sought-after brokers on Wall Street. That is, until he ended up in prison for perpetrating a multibillion dollar Ponzi scheme that devastated the lives of individuals, companies, and even governments. Numerous actors, athletes, political leaders, and business executives today attempt to deny their position as role models when people are already following them and imitating their conduct. They would like people to distinguish between their personal behavior and their professional life, but such separation cannot really be made.
As you search for role models and mentors, examine their personal lives as thoroughly as their public performance. Your values will be shaped by theirs, so don’t be casual or careless about whom you decide to follow. Paul writes, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” You must be sure that the person in whose footsteps you are following is following in the footsteps of Christ.
Why is this so important? Because there will be an audit! Whatever you have spent your life building will be evaluated at the judgment seat of Christ, and you will be rewarded accordingly. “Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15 NKJV).
Soul food: Exo 22-24; John 3:1-21; Ps 89:1-14; Prov 26:17-19
1 Korintiërs 11:1 NLV
Jou mentor moet nie net professionele uitnemendheid ten toon stel en vaardighede hê waaruit jy kan leer nie, maar moet ook iemand wees met karaktereienskappe wat die moeite werd is om na te volg. Bernie Madoff was een van die invloedrykste en gesogste makelaars in Wall Street. Hy het egter in die tronk opgeëindig nadat hy ‘n multibiljoen Ponzi skema bedryf het wat die lewens van individue, maatskappye en selfs regerings verwoes het. Talle akteurs, atlete, politieke leiers en sakebestuurders poog deesdae om hul posisie as rolmodelle te ontken alhoewel mense hulle steeds volg en hul gedrag naboots. Hulle wil graag hê dat mense tussen hul persoonlike gedrag en hul professionele lewe moet onderskei, maar sulke onderskeiding is nie regtig moontlik nie.
Terwyl jy na rolmodelle en mentors soek, moet jy hul persoonlike lewe net so deeglik soos hul openbare optrede ondersoek. Jou waardes sal deur hulle s’n gevorm word, moet dus nie terloops of onverskillig wees oor wie jy besluit om te volg nie. Paulus skryf: ‘Volg julle dan my voorbeeld, soos ek weer Christus s’n volg.’ Jy moet seker maak dat die persoon in wie se voetspore jy volg, Christus se voetspore volg.
Hoekom is dit so belangrik? Omdat daar ‘n oudit gaan wees! Wat jy ook in jou lewe bou, sal by die regterstoel van Christus geëvalueer word en jy sal dienooreenkomstig beloon word. ‘Daar kom egter ‘n dag wanneer die kwaliteit van elkeen se werk aan die lig sal kom, want die vuurtoets sal dit bekendmaak. Dié vuurtoets sal elkeen se werk beproef – of dit standhou. Die mense wie se bouwerk standhou, sal deur God beloon word. Maar die mense wie se bouwerk deur die vuur verteer word, sal skade ly…’ (1 Korintiërs 3:13-15 NLV).
Sielskos: Eks 22-24; Joh 3:1-21; Ps 89:1-14; Spr 26:17-19
2024-10-13
Matteus 11:29 NLV
Jesus het gesê: ‘…Op hierdie rots sal Ek my kerk oprig, en al die magte van die hel sal dit nie oorwin nie’ (Matteus 16:18 NLV). Toe Hy hierdie woorde gespreek het, was die godsdienstige leiers van die tyd besig om sy dood te beplan, die samelewing is deur die mag van Rome beheer en sy volgelinge was eenvoudige mense. Menslik gesproke was dit wat Hy beloof het vermetel en die kans dat dit sou plaasvind, nul. Nietemin het dit alles gebeur. Tweeduisend jaar later is Hy die skrywer wat die meeste aangehaal word en baie van ons waardes word op die beginsels wat Hy vir die mense onderrig het, gebaseer. Hoe het Hy dit gedoen? Deur ander te mentor.
Wanneer jy dus na ‘n mentor soek, probeer iemand kry wat die kwaliteite en karakter wat Jesus ten toon gestel het, uitleef. ‘Kom na My toe, julle almal wat moeg is en swaar laste moet dra, en Ek sal julle lewens verkwik. Neem my juk op julle skouers. Kom leer van My, want Ek is sag en nederig van hart, en julle sal nuwe krag kry. Want my juk sal saggies op julle skouers rus en my las is lig om te dra’ (Matteus 11:28-30 NLV). Jesus het ‘n landbou-illustrasie gebruik wat sy volgelinge sou verstaan. Om die beste produktiwiteit uit ‘n os te kry, moet die juk om sy nek gemaklik pas.
‘n Goeie mentor is iemand wat jou verstaan en weet wat by jou temperament en talente pas. ‘n Mentor is ‘n ekstra paar oë en ore wat altyd jou beste belange op die hart dra. Wanneer jy daaraan dink, is die regte mentor een van die beste beleggings wat jy vir jou toekoms kan maak.
Sielskos: Heb 11:22; Gen 41:1-39; Gen 45:1-11; Gen 50:15-26
Matthew 11:29 NLT
Jesus said, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18 KJV). When He spoke those words, the religious leaders of His day were plotting His death, the society in which He lived was controlled by the might of Rome, and His followers were common people. Humanly speaking, what He promised was audacious, and the possibilities of it happening were zero. Nevertheless, it came to pass. Two thousand years later, He is the most quoted author in the world, and many of our values are based on the principles He taught. How did He do it? By mentoring others.
So when looking for a mentor, try to find someone who exemplifies the qualities and character Jesus displayed. “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light'” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT). Jesus used an agricultural illustration His listeners would understand. To get the highest productivity out of an ox, the yoke around its neck had to be a comfortable fit.
And a good mentor is someone who understands you and knows what is the right fit for your temperament and talents. A mentor is an extra pair of eyes and ears and that always has your best interests at heart. When you think about it, having the right mentor is one of the best investments you can make in your future.
Soul food: Heb 11:22; Gen 41:1-39; Gen 45:1-11; Gen 50:15-26
2024-10-12
Matthew 4:19 NKJV
Most people who decide to grow personally find their first mentors in the pages of books. That is a great place to start. For that matter, it’s a great place to continue. And the wisdom that’s found in Scripture makes the Bible the best mentor’s manual ever written. If you are not reading it daily, you are robbing yourself of the greatest source of inspiration and illumination. And at some point, if you’re wise, you will also look for a role model to mentor you. No matter how gifted and experienced you are, you will go further with the right mentor than you will on your own.
Jesus, the greatest mentor of all, discipled a group of men who changed the world forever. “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him” (vv. 18-22 NKJV). Note the words “follow Me, and I will make you… “
Just as the right mentor can make you, the wrong mentor can break you. So you need to pray about this. Then you must do something about it. Why? Because if you follow only yourself, you may find yourself going in circles and getting nowhere.
Soul food: Lev 16; Lev 23:26-32; Heb 9:1-14; Heb 13:11-16
