Teacher, mentor or coach?

A Mentor Becomes a Menace

by Skip Heitzig | Read 2 KINGS 12:1-16

Photo of the Daily Good BookJoash began to rule over Judah in the seventh year of King Jehu’s reign in Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba. All his life Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. – 2 KINGS 12:1-2

Over the years, we’ve changed what we call someone who guides us. Some call that person a teacher; others use the word mentor or coach. Whatever you call it, King Joash was fortunate to have a godly mentor in the priest Jehoiada. Now the young king could become a leader with a spiritual heart, and he became just that. But what happened when that mentor was no longer around?

One task of mentors is to wean their pupils from dependence on them and lead their pupils into greater dependence on God. During the early years of Joash’s reign, the priests had allowed the temple to deteriorate. They took the money designated for ministry and temple maintenance and used it for other things. When we have no love for God, we neglect what’s important to Him.

King Joash followed God because of his mentor, Jehoiada, and “did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight” (2 Kings 12:2). But when Jehoiada died, the king turned to sin: “After Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice. They decided to abandon the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead!” (2 Chronicles 24:17-18).

If others are the props for your faith, what will you do when those props are gone? You may be looking to a mentor, a pastor, or some other leader to validate your faith. Will you be shaken to the core if you learn of some inconstancy in that person or you find flaw in him or her? Look to Jesus, the one who initiates and perfects your faith.

Jesus never said, “Follow My people.” He said “Follow Me!”