The importance of exhortation in mentoring relationship.

September 14, 2013 - 1 Timothy 3:1-12

  ¹ Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. ² Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

   ⁸ In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁹ They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

   ¹¹ In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

   ¹² A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. ¹³Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Apostle Paul exhorted to his mentoree, Timothy, in terms of how he should select overseers and deacons of the church. The future prospect of the church rests on the qualities of the key leaders - overseers and deacons. They are required to demonstrate the various kinds of spiritual qualities before the believers and even the outsiders in different areas, including the marital relationship with their spouses, parenting relationship with their children, personal integrity, character maturity and perseverance as affirmed by the congregants, and the heart and ability of teaching as particularly required of the overseers. Paul modeled himself and exhorted Timothy to pursue all these qualities as he was instructed to choose the overseers and deacons of the church. Mentoring is a kind of dynamic relationship between the mentor and mentoree. This is not a matter of skill or technique only but a commitment to each other that they can grow in the same direction. Paul, the mentor, modeled himself and also exhorted his mentoree, Timothy. Timothy, the mentoree, imitated his mentor, Paul, and also followed his teaching. Timothy, became another mentor of his church's leaders, exhorted them to follow and modeled himself that others could imitate. Mentoring is also a kind of discipleship but particularly occurs in the leadership development process.

My Master Jesus, thanks for giving me Paul as one of my historical mentors that I learn from his teachings and also imitate his modeling. I now also receive the calling from the Lord to continue this mentoring process for church's leaders. My Master Jesus, thanks for giving me the gifts of teaching and mentoring that I can continue this process of developing church's leaders. Help me sharpen my skills but also deepen my heart in training and also loving the leaders You choose for Your church.