“Two are better than one, because they have good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.” – Ecclesiastes 4: 9 – 10
When I was younger, I played a lot of pool. It kind of consumed me for a decade or so. I lost a few girlfriends, spent a great deal of money, and almost ruined some family relationships all because of that game. Is the game evil? Not at all. It is a fantastic game of skill that sharpens your critical thinking, improves your hand eye coordination, and teaches several different branches of math and science (geometry and physics primarily). I have life-long friends because of the hours spent on a pool table.
Was I an elite pool player? No. Was I good at the game? Yes I was. I was a student of the game. I didn’t just play 8 ball or 9 ball all the time. I did accuracy drills. I worked on my posture and form. However, more importantly, I played against players better than me. I knew that I couldn’t advance my skill in any sport by only competing against equals or less advanced players. Yes, it’s always fun to win. And you will win frequently if you’re playing against lesser opponents, but you won’t get any better.
Of course everything in the natural is just a type and shadow of the spiritual world. The concept of needing spiritually mature people around us so we can grow is rooted in scripture. The author of Hebrews writes in Chapter Thirteen and verse seven, “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” In other words, those who are leaders in the faith who God has placed in our lives should be a model for us. We should strive to imitate them in their faith. In Proverbs 9:9 Solomon writes, “Give instruction to wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” This is a tough teaching in today’s world. Everyone wants to be the smartest one in the room. Unfortunately, it is just as true in many church circles. We want to be the most spiritual person in our group. We want to be the one revered or respected for our revelation and insight. However, not only is this flying contrary to biblical teaching, but it is also a case study in pride. Proverbs 20:18 reads, “Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.” Now the author may have said war, but it is symbolic of every area of our lives. We are always in a war; a war against the enemy of our soul, a war against our flesh, and a war against an ungodly society. We always need to be seeking wise and Godly counsel!
Of course, we not only need mentors and wise counselors in our life, but we also need to be mentoring people who are not as mature as we are. God calls us to take our place in the body of Christ (the Church) and help that body grow and operate efficiently. God hates wasted motions. We should always be seeking ways to efficiently complete His will in the church. We need to constantly seek to encourage, edify, and lift up those around us. Proverbs 27:17 reads, “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Sometimes there will be sparks, but we are sharpening not just those around us, but ourselves as well. We do these things, not from pride, or from a place of superiority, but out of love. In I Thessalonians 2:8 Paul writes, “So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.” Paul is telling the church at Thessalonica that they are imparting everything they can to them out of true love. The more revelation and wisdom that we gain, the more we should be seeking to impart that wisdom to others; not to show off our spiritual maturity, but to help others understand and accept the grace that God has offered them.
Sometimes, the hardest part of this process is to see people that we have mentored soaring to levels that we have never attained. Once again, pride can be a formidable foe. We all want to see our kids go further than we ever did. Let’s apply that same attitude to those who we teach and encourage spiritually. Let’s find a mentor, and let’s be a mentor. Both are equally important! Peter’s call to leaders in the faith in I Peter 5:1-4 is a great reminder to us all. In the Message version, it reads, “I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it’s like to be a leader, in on Christ’s sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here’s my concern: that you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.”