“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable people…” – 2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)
Friends, as good stewards, God has also called us to pass on those giftings He has placed and cultivated within us to faithful people around us (that godly behaviour may continue). We see this pattern occurring in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, Joshua received the spirit of wisdom because Moses, who mentored him for many years, laid hands on him. He succeeded Moses as leader of the children of Israel. Similarly, Elisha received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit as he was mentored by Elijah. He became a greater prophet.
In the New Testament, Jesus imparted all the wisdom, knowledge, and giftings God had given to Him to His disciples. After Jesus’s death, the disciples built and expanded God’s church. We also saw the same pattern with Paul’s mentorship of Timothy in the New Testament.
Brethren, we have a duty to pour out whatever God has placed in us to those around us, but only to those who are willing to learn and, more importantly, to those who are responsible enough to steward what is entrusted to them. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul instructed Timothy to entrust what he learnt “to reliable people”. That is key since we do not want to plant in soil that won’t bear fruit. Therefore, it is salient that we use wisdom and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit when choosing who to mentor. God wastes nothing, so we shouldn’t either.
In both the Old and New Testaments, the mentors did not pass on their knowledge and giftings to people who were irresponsible and unfaithful. All of their mentees went on to be great leaders and, in some cases, better leaders than their mentors. That should be our aim: to have those we mentor be even greater than we were so that God’s purpose can be fulfilled in our lives, their lives, and the earth. So, as you sow, do so in good soil, thereby ensuring God’s harvest is rich.
Prayer
Father, we thank You for the many blessings You’ve given us, including this day. We ask that You bless us with faithful men and women so that we may be obedient and pour out what You’ve given us into them. We thank You for doing it. In Jesus’s mighty name. Amen.
Read: Deuteronomy 34:9; 2 Kings 2:9
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 119:137-144; Hebrews 3; Joel 1; Joel 2:1-17
