Mentoring – Building God’s Kingdom
David wanted to build God’s house by God did not allow him. David could have done two things: rebel against God and build it anyway, or sulk at being rejected and be upset with God. He chose to mentor the person God had chosen for this task- Solomon, his successor.
Mentoring is a mark of true spiritual maturity. It entails watching God develop others through you and rejoicing that they are being greatly used by God. This requires nothing else that a heart that is totally committed to God and seeks nothing less than his kingdom. How exactly did David mentor Solomon? He used four exemplary ways:
Encourager:
‘“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind” …’ (1 Chron.28:9). David took the time to lovingly yet seriously communicate God’s purposes to Solomon. “Go for it son” he seems to say, “you can do it and do your best”. He urges Solomon to ardently serve God with a loyal heart and willing mind. To be a mentor, we must believe God and believe in people also. David is confident that God will use Solomon and determined to instil that same confidence in him. His words of encouragement include caution against selfish and impure motives. It is always a vulnerable thing to rely on others yet mentoring begins and progresses on the basis of trust. We come alongside younger or needy believers who are sincere learners to challenge them to get to know God and assure them as they do his will.
Equipper:
‘Then King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is young and inexperienced. The task is great” …’‘(1 Chron. 29:1). David recognised that Solomon was young and inexperienced and doing God’s work is always a difficult and demanding task. Solomon needed his moral support, influence and guidance as well as material supplies. So, with foresight David made the needed preparations for building the temple. At the most practical level he made mentoring Solomon his life’s mission. Equipping implies giving the means, tools and resources needed to get a job done for God. It is coaching with the required knowledge, skills and passion. In this regard being a Christian parent-teacher is an ideal sphere to model mentoring by equipping those entrusted to our trust and care.
Example:
‘“Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God” …’ (1 Chron. 29:3). King David not only made arrangements for the building from Israel’s national resources but also gave from his own special treasures. Isn’t this the essence of mentoring- giving away one’s self, service and substance for the people we seek to mentor? Mentoring has little to do with good intentions and everything to do with Christian character and a sacrificial lifestyle. People become aware of what leaders say and more so of what they do. But they are most influenced by who we are! More than reasons and resources to serve, younger leaders need relationships that set before them a godly example of what it means to believe God and accomplish great things for Him.
Enlister:
‘Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly’ (1 Chron. 29:6). God believed in God, people and in teamwork. He did not forget that in his younger days and early struggles, he had been given “a band of men whose hearts God had touched”. Like him, Solomon also needed a loyal group if he was going to be successful. David impacted the leaders of Israel, got them involved and inducted into Solomon’s team and divine assignment. “Who else is willing and ready to go and do what I did?” he challenged them. Touched by David’s sacrifice these leaders were also willing to give themselves and their wealth for Solomon’s temple. Note Solomon’s performance and success now become David’s joy and success.
David thus encouraged, equipped, set an example and enlisted others for Solomon, whom he mentored into greatness for God’s glory.
Jesus of Nazareth is the Perfect Mentor. Interestingly, Jesus Christ did not come as a king but chose to be a servant. This is how He shared God’s life and love with us humans as He ministered to the multitudes and met their needs. However Jesus handpicked and personally trained only twelve disciples (Mk.3:13-14). These were his immediate audience, primary ministry and earthly family. He gave them His word and empowered them by His Spirit to do his own work (Jan 20:21). His goal was to entrust and equip these future leaders to carry on His own mission- building the people of God.
Is it a farfetched statement to say that the Church came into existence as a result of Jesus’ mentoring of the Twelve? Soon these disciples became apostles to proclaim Jesus’ message to the end of the earth by reproducing His life. Mentoring is an apostolic ministry in the literal sense of the word. “Apostle” is derived from (apo) stolon, where “stolon” was a root that spread underground to form a plant with the ability to put down a new set of roots. Mentoring is the force and divine method by which the New testament Church grew. Paul used it and clearly taught it as a principle for Church growth (2Tim. 2:2). God gives all true spiritual leaders, younger leaders to train in and for the Church. Note in mentoring the transferring of this training is equally important. We are to be engaged in training trainers.
Even today, mentoring is how God fills his kingdom and Christ builds his Church. As servant-leaders in the kingdom, are you being mentored by and mentoring someone? No one is a true success without a successor. Through mentoring, may God’s will be done and His kingdom come.
