Mentoring has been a hot topic in business leadership circles for years. Back in the old days, there were informal mentoring systems where a senior leader would take a younger person under their wing and guide them along on their career path.
Then, in many companies, the Human Resources folks caught on and decided mentoring was a good idea, so they formalized the process. They created formal networks of seasoned leaders, each assigned a younger person to mentor.
I can’t say I know of any of these formal mentoring systems that had any significant results. They were artificial programs that forced paired-up relationships.
It makes me wonder, is mentoring that important to leadership development? And for us as Christians, I wonder if mentoring is a Biblical approach to developing leaders?
I mean, the word mentoring isn’t even in the Bible! Not in our English version and not even in the original Hebrew or Greek!
So, to determine if mentoring is a Biblical concept, we have to look at what mentoring is and see if the same behavior is found in the pages of scripture.
Homer’s Mentor
Our modern-day idea of a mentor finds its roots in Homer’s Odyssey. In the Odyssey, a man named Odysseus went off to war, but before he left, he put a man named Mentor in charge of raising and teaching his son.
From this relationship described in the Odyssey, our use of mentor has come to mean, “a trusted counselor or guide, a tutor or coach.”
From this story, I see three important aspects of a mentor. First, to be a mentor, there must be a relationship. Second, the relationship that exists is between an experienced and less experienced person. Third, the purpose of the relationship is to guide, train, or coach a mentee.
So, now that we understand what a mentor is, let’s look at the Bible and see if we can find mentoring relationships.
Biblical Mentoring Relationships
Even though the word “mentor” is not used in scripture, the act of mentoring is found throughout scripture.
For example:
- Jethro mentored Moses. Moses mentored Joshua, and Joshua mentored the senior leaders of his army.
- Naomi mentored Ruth.
- Deborah mentored Barak
- Eli mentored Samuel. Samuel later mentored both Saul and David. Ahithophel and Nathan also mentored David.
- David mentored not only his leaders but his son, Solomon.
- Elijah mentored Elisha. Elisha mentored King Jehoash.
- Daniel mentored Nebuchadnezzar.
- Mordecai mentored Esther.
- Priscilla and Aquilla mentored Apollos.
- Jesus mentored the twelve apostles.
- The apostles mentored dozens if not hundreds of others.
- Barnabas mentored Paul. Paul mentored Titus and Timothy. Timothy mentored Epaphras.
Importantly, note the diversity in these mentoring relationships. Men mentored men. Men mentored women. Women mentored men. The powerful mentored the weak. The weak mentored the powerful.
Often, the mentee became a mentor to another mentee, who, over time, became a mentor themselves. Knowledge and skills were passed from one leader to the next, generation after generation.
Our Mentoring Call
According to a recent Lifeway study, 45% of unchurched young adults welcome the opportunity to receive advice from older people with similar life experiences. Additionally, 68% of churched young adults welcome those mentoring relationships.
So, both churched and unchurched young adults are open to learning from people with similar life experiences. They want to learn, but how can they learn unless someone with more experience is willing to come alongside them as a mentor?
As Christian leaders, we need to show others what we know so they can grow!
So, the answer to the question, “Is mentoring a Biblical approach to leadership development?” is a resounding, “yes”!
I believe, based on the Biblical record, mentoring in “one on one” or “one to a few” scenarios are probably the best way to develop the next generation of leaders. Yes, formal education can help, and books on leadership can help too.
However, in my mind, the best way to develop solid Christian leaders is for today’s generation of leaders to take the next generation under their wing and mentor them. Care for them. Be a trusted counselor, guide, coach, or tutor. Be a mentor that shows what you know, allowing others to grow!
More Articles on Leadership Development
I’ve written numerous other articles on leadership development If you want to read them you can search for “leadership development” in the search bar. Here are a few of my most recent favorites:
- #339: Do You Know Why Most Businesses Ultimately Fail?
- #301: The Man Who Went from Insecure Doubter to Powerful Leader
- #295: What to Do When Your Boss Is All Hat and No Cattle
- #294: What is the Most Important Attribute of Inspiring Leaders?
- #293: Can You Learn to Be an Inspiring Leader?
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Have you ever been in a mentoring relationship, as either a mentor or a mentee? Was it a valuable aid in developing you as a leader?
I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because of people like you who share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?
Category: Skills | Leadership Development
I was blessed to have some good mentors in my law enforcement profession, and I returned the favor with a few people, including the police chief who was my successor.
John, Yes! That’s the way I think mentoring is most effective. When one person mentors another and over time the mentee becomes the mentor.