Check the Fruit! The Value of Mentors
by Holly Schmitz
What is the value of a mentor? In fact, you might even be asking, what is a mentor? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary online,
men·tor
"someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person.
-a trusted counselor or guide."
In days gone by, the value of mentors were well known. Someone who taught you the ways of life, perhaps a parent or teacher. What about the wisdom of a grandparent? And even more so, the wisdom of a Godly grandparent. According to Bill Newton, Businessman and Community Builder, "We have lost the value of mentors in our society today." Am I seriously pursuing a mentor in my life?! Are you pursuing a mentor? Perhaps you have a mentor in your personal trainer for the "Health" category. But really, to grow in each area of our life, we truly need a mentor in our spiritual, mental, physical, finance, and relationships as well.
One individual may cover several areas, or perhaps just one area. If you know of someone that has the 'fruit on the tree' in the health, but is about to foreclose on his house, it appears that he has the right thinking in health category but not in finances. Check the fruit!
Have you ever trusted someone's advice on finances, and didn't even think to check their "fruit?" My husband and I have and didn't even realize it until years later. One particular friend of ours was giving us detailed financial advice. And then, a few years later, he went bankrupt! Oops, wrong mentor!! All I can say, is I'm glad we didn't follow all of his advice in the area of finances. We did however, follow a few of his ideas on credit card usage and that was a bad decision on our part. Check the fruit!
A lot of times we don't even know the right questions to ask. This is why there is a value in mentors and counselors. According to the Scripture,
Proverbs 11:14
"Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety."
"Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety."
We also don't want to get in the habit of taking only our own advice. After all, the saying goes, "Doing the same thing over and over and thinking you're going to get different results, is the definition of insanity." If you sit down with your spouse, and say, "What should we do about our son? His attitude isn't right, and I think he may be lying to us. How do we connect with him and instruct him better?" If this is the 10th time this month that you have had this conversation, it might be a good idea to get some outside counsel for direction. Have you read your Bible? Have you read the Proverbs? Have you read the Proverbs with your son? Are you asking questions and listening? Have you spoken with your pastor or a trusted pastor, who has the 'fruit on the tree?' Now if your potential 'parenting' mentor has kids that are out of control and little terrors most of the time, you probably shouldn't want to have him or her as your mentor in that area. Check the fruit!
According to Bill Newton, "mentors can help you with three areas:
1) Mentors reduce the noise in the amount of information that is coming at you.
2) They help to narrow the scope on what you need to change.
3) They love and care for us and want to guide us to our dreams."
Why don't people have mentors or even know to ask why they should want one? It is largely because most people have to much pride to find a mentor." We must humble ourselves; I must humble myself, to realize that I don't have it all figured out, and I am not perfect, and I can definitely grow in every area of my life.
1) Mentors reduce the noise in the amount of information that is coming at you.
2) They help to narrow the scope on what you need to change.
3) They love and care for us and want to guide us to our dreams."
Why don't people have mentors or even know to ask why they should want one? It is largely because most people have to much pride to find a mentor." We must humble ourselves; I must humble myself, to realize that I don't have it all figured out, and I am not perfect, and I can definitely grow in every area of my life.
Apparently, this term, "mentor" is a popular term, because according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online, "Mentor is currently in the top 1% of lookups and is the 360th most popular word on Merriam-Webster.com." It seems like there is a lot of surface interest in this term, but are we truly seeking out a mentor to help me in a particular area? Most people want to talk a good game, but are they really following through and being intentional with excellence and seeking out mentors?
As we begin a new year, this is a perfect time to sit down with a sheet of paper, write down the following areas and brainstorm, think, pray about why you should want to become better:
faith, finances, mental, relationships, health, fun, legacy, etc.
Friends, please choose the higher, less traveled and more meaningful road this year as you carefully choose a mentor to help you get a little further down the path you have chosen.
Your Pardner,
Holly
As we begin a new year, this is a perfect time to sit down with a sheet of paper, write down the following areas and brainstorm, think, pray about why you should want to become better:
faith, finances, mental, relationships, health, fun, legacy, etc.
Friends, please choose the higher, less traveled and more meaningful road this year as you carefully choose a mentor to help you get a little further down the path you have chosen.
Your Pardner,
Holly
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