Last week I introduced the concept of a Constellation of Mentors. This week I want to talk about the first part of the Constellation: Upward Mentors.
When most people think of a mentor, they are thinking of someone who has had more experience and wisdom than them, hoping he/she will pour into them so one may learn. What most people are thinking of is called an Upward Mentor; in a sense, someone who is above them. We’ve all had Upward Mentors: a favorite teacher, uncle or aunt, neighbor, maybe even a parent. And when you think about them, they bring back great memories.
There are three types of Upward Mentors. The first is a Biblical Mentor. These are characters from the Bible who can teach us life lessons by what they said and/or what they did. You may not have thought of biblical characters as a mentor, but they can be. We can learn from Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Ruth, David, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul, and Mary. This is where you can be mentored on a daily basis by having a daily quiet time in the Word. Right now in my Life Journal I am going through the life of Kings Rehoboam and Jeroboam. I am learning life lessons as I study their stories. Even though both were considered bad kings, I can still learn what they did wrong so as to avoid those things. One of the my favorite Biblical Mentors is Joseph in Genesis. He went through a series of tests which taught me how to navigate unexpected and difficult times.
The second is an Historical Mentor. These are people who have already passed on but their life lessons have been written down to influence generations to come. There are two ways we can be mentored by a Historical Mentor. First is by their writings. Bible scholar G. Campbell Morgan lived in the 1800’s yet I have some of his writings in both print and digital format. His Bible exposition commentaries continues to teach me today. In a sense, I am being mentored by him even though he passed away close to 70 years ago. Second is by their biographies. Henrietta Mears was one of the best Sunday School teachers in the country during the 1950-60’s. Earl Roe wrote an excellent biography on her life which I have read twice and learned about creative educational methodologies. Mears continues to mentor me even though she passed 50 years ago. These two are examples of Historical Mentors, people who can mentor you even though they are no longer living.
The third is a Contemporary Mentor. These are people who are currently living. There are two types. First are those who are distant. These are people who you don’t know personally but their teachings continue to influence you through their writings, videos, and podcasts. Dr. Charles Swindoll has a radio broadcast and podcast, Insight for Living, which I listen to for good Bible teaching and application. I have also read his books such as The Grace Awakening and Improving Your Serve. He mentors me although he doesn’t know me. The second are those who are close. These are people who you know personally. During my college years, Dr. Mike Palompo mentored me through weekly meetings. During my post-college years, Pastor Brad Barshaw met with me on a monthly basis. Currently, Dr. J. Robert Clinton mentors me through his monthly writings and my once-a-year visit with him in Pasadena.
There are three reasons why we need Upward Mentors. First, we don’t have enough time to learn firsthand all we need to know; we need to learn from the lives of others who have already experienced it. Those before us went through the experiences, gleaned the wisdom, and are ready to impart that wisdom to us, whether they realize it or not. Second, we need Biblical Mentors because God wanted us to learn from their lives. The Bible is the only book inspired by God, therefore His words take precedence over all other books we read. Paul wrote in Rom. 15:4, “For whatever was written in earlier times [referring to the Old Testament] was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” I believe God wants us to learn from the lives of Biblical Mentors. Third, the older you get, the less mentors you will have who are alive. When you are young, you are able to seek out mentors who are nearby. However, as you grow older, there will be less mentors available who can talk with you face-to-face. Therefore as you get older you need to seek mentors who are primarily Biblical and Historical.
With Biblical, Historical, and Contemporary Mentors, you will never run out of influencers who can pour into you on a regular basis. If you want to be a disciple who lasts, learn to have a number of Upward Mentors.
© Gary Lau 2013
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