By Steve Lyston
The world is going through birth pangs and failures at every level in every area, including family, church, business, politics, law, and the security forces. It has caused numerous losses and lawsuits. This is as a result of a serious lack of mentorship. So in order to have continuity in all facets of our society, it is necessary for the older ones to teach the younger ones.
In the church, we must increase discipleship. The lack of mentorship/discipleship in our society has yielded a crop of novices who are bringing reproach to the Body of Christ.
Titus 2: 3 – reminds us “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”
The Current State
The failure and brokenness of families exist at high levels throughout society. Even something as simple as knowing his or her role in a marriage relationship escapes so many today. Some don’t understand the culture, and so even going naked is accepted.
The state of our schools is as a result of the lack of mentorship. The older teachers are leaving the system, and so the younger ones have no role models. As a result, a vacuum is created, and we continue the cycle.
In order to deal with this problem, mentors must now raise up other mentors and pay them more so that the next generation is in good stead to carry the nations forward. Likewise, private corporations must do the same by raising more mentors and paying them according to seniority if they want to see growth.
Parents Are The First Mentors
Many are throwing blame around regarding who is to be blamed for the various conditions of our youth. However, for that, we need to go back to the basics—parenting!
Parents are the first mentors for their children, and the absence of parents is causing confusion, deception, and legal havoc, as well as great manipulation. Many children today don’t know their gender. Each person needs to know that family is the first line of government.
Mentorship in Sports
The lack of mentorship in sports is now causing serious recklessness, poor decision-making, arrogance, and moral decline. Consider the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL). Many in the sports arena are now living a reckless lifestyle. They squander their money and waste resources.
There should be mentorship before certain contracts are given to them. Furthermore, contracts should be given based on maturity, not just skill. Most who get the contract without mentorship are creating more damage to themselves and others. In addition to this, many of them enter with a lot of baggage that needs to be addressed before they sign the deal.
Agents must be serving for more than the lavish pocket money they receive as a salary. They must have plans and programmes in place to help their clients.
In God’s Will
The most important thing in life is to be in God’s will, fulfilling his purpose, and giving him glory for the gifts and talents he has given us.
Obey His Word daily. Many are going down the wrong path because they don’t know the Word of God.
Imagine that swing clubs are making billions from our sports personnel. Are they glorifying God? Are they honouring or dishonouring Him? The main reason they are where they are is because He gives them the power to get wealth. (Deuteronomy 8)
Each must remember that it is a ministry that God has given them to serve him, and when we don’t honour him, his grace and favour will go, and so will the finances.
The absence of spiritual mentorship to advise political leaders has produced problems globally. Every Nebuchadnezzar needs a Daniel, and every Pharoah needs a Moses. When God’s servant does not have a seat at the table of influence, we will see occult influences taking the lead and pushing the immoral and unclean things that displease God to the fore.
The lack of mentorship has allowed many to squander their parent’s prosperity. It has also allowed them to attract the wrong friends to be around them. They embrace the wrong things and reject the truth. The principle of maturity is to maintain the fruit of the spirit. So it is okay for us to allow people to be tested by God through trials and other problems. This will hinder novices and those who bring reproach. We see a number of elites and politicians pushing their children into serious positions of influence. They are creating a number of problems for their society and for their children. So there has to be an apprentice system where they are also aware that no job is too low. They must start from the ground up and know how to treat people. They must value what they are given. When this happens we will see change.