Written by Justin Wong. Artwork by Lorraine Yang.
2 Timothy 1:8-2:3
He called me a friend. He asked to meet up as peers, but he was more than that and he impacted my life deeply. We met weekly, we met intentionally. We weren’t exactly close friends to begin with, but we had one thing in common—we wanted to grow. I needed discipline, he had that to share.
After one year, he invited me to take our “accountability” to the next level and co-lead a small group. He still maintained that we were peers, but I understood it to mean that I was ready for the next level in my training. I helped share what I had learned and we attempted to repeat the cycle I had learned the past year. The following year, we went our separate ways and started new small groups on our own.
Ben is still a dear friend of mine. Perhaps he saw something in me that rang true for him. Or perhaps God knew what neither of us could see. We shared the same heart. We both had a passion to raise up men of God. So Ben trained me in the ministry of multiplication. We met regularly for two years and worked together for years after that.
Paul was a discipler of many. Timothy is described as his spiritual son—encouraged to join Paul in his ministry. Paul challenged Timothy to guard what was entrusted to him and reproduce it in reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. From Paul, to Timothy, to reliable men and to others. Here are four generations of believers bearing witness to the glory and power of God. Ben was my Paul, my mentor. I believe I was one of his Timothys and I hope to continue to entrust this to reliable men who can reproduce it.
God has intentionally placed men and women of God into our lives to train, admonish and encourage us. These people build into our lives and invest for the future. Paul reminds us that the investment is intended to pass from generation to generation. How have you been blessed by those placed in your life? Are you guarding the good deposit that was entrusted to you? We have been blessed by the generation before us and have been entrusted with the task of blessing the generations to come. Who has God entrusted to you to invest in?
Reflection Questions
1. Identify one mentor in your life and reflect on one thing they have taught you that you can pass on to others. If no one comes to mind, think about who you can ask to mentor you for a period of time.
2. Is there someone in your life God may be calling you to invest in or mentor? Think about how you can do that in small and big ways.