“At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice. Among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment” (Proverbs 7:6–7).
Most young people yearn for someone to invest time and wisdom into them. They know deep in their hearts they need help to handle heartaches. Their naïve knowledge has yet to graduate them from the school of hard knocks so they need loving and wise instruction. Who in your circle of influence is a candidate for your caring attention?
It may be a son or daughter, a colleague at work, or a friend from church. God places people in our lives for a purpose. Perhaps you prayerfully pursue a mentor relationship with a teachable young person. He or she can learn from your mistakes as much or more than from your wise choices.
Mentors are not perfect, just wiser from failure and humbled by success. Look around and ask the Lord to lead you to a young person who may be edging toward the wrong direction. Reach out to that young person. By doing so, you will have returned the favor to someone who has loved you.
Indeed, mentors take time for others because they are eternally grateful for those who took time for them. Gratitude to God is a great reason to go the extra mile with someone younger. Read books together, maybe one book a month for a year. Meet over coffee to discuss how the book challenged your thinking and changed your behavior for the better.
A young leader can preclude problems when he or she is able to model the wise habits of the mentor. Always invite an older adult into your life who can educate you in the ways of God. Moreover, the mentor process is valuable to both parties. It provides accountability, encouragement, love, and obedience to Christ’s commands. Mentor young people so they follow the right path, and in turn help someone else do the same.
The Bible says, “Encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children…. Likewise urge the young men to be sensible” (Titus 2:4, 6 NASB).
