One Life – Mentors for Our Work/Career

Posted by Buck Jacobs on Nov 19th, 2009 | no comments home title

The foundational qualities we identified as most important in looking for a mentor are 1) Intimacy with God 2) Commitment to a godly marriage 3) Commitment to godly parenting 4) A history of ministering Truth to others fruitfully 5) An awareness of and actively resisting excessive acquisition and materialism.6) Displays self-discipline. 7) Is a lifetime learner. Each deserves focused study and attention, and each, as you can see, is directly related to fundamental spiritual perspectives and values. There is good reason to begin with these basic Biblical characteristics.

Let me give an example of where we are going with this as it applies to our work and/or career:

I once had the privilege of meeting Max DePree, the retired CEO and Chairman of Herman Miller, Corp. one of America’s most admired companies. After we were introduced Mr. DePree asked me what I did and I replied, “I teach Christians to integrate their faith into their businesses.” Mr. DePree paused and then said to me, “Don’t you have that just backwards Buck? Isn’t our faith the center of our lives? And shouldn’t we be bringing all things to our faith rather than vice-versa? We will be Christians long after we aren’t businessmen.” He, of course was right on! For a Christ-follower, Jesus and our faith is the center of our lives and all other relationships or activities should be brought to Christ rather than trying to fit Him into them. For most 21st century Christians this is very radical thinking as most of us have been culturally trained to believe that we can’t mix faith with business, politics, or as we progress toward a secular public square, anywhere or anything outside of our homes and churches. This is nonsense that really only legitimizes the world’s accusation of hypocrisy against many Christians. A Hypocrite is one who professes to believe in one standard but lives according to another. Ever seen one? In business?

The only part of our career that has any ultimate value to us is that which has or is of eternal significance. Our careers are our unique mission fields and our ultimate success will be measured not by how financially rewarding they are but by how faithful we have been to allow Christ to live through us in them. All the toys and shiny things of this world will lose their value to us completely and forever the moment we draw our last breath. Only those things that we have done that have value to Jesus will carry with us to and through His judgment and into ETERNAL LIFE! Therefore, only those mentors that understand life from a Biblical perspective can be of real value to us in the big picture. This isn’t to say that we can’t learn skills or be taught worthwhile things by ungodly people, of course we can. But we must use discernment. Many have been led astray by leaning their ladders against the wrong wall while climbing towards their faulted understanding of success.

The scripture says “Seek first the Kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33) and “Blessed is he who seeks NOT the counsel of the ungodly…” (Psalm 1:1.) In a big way our lives on Earth are a preparation for our eternal lives and our mentors should reflect those values and qualities that support the big picture, combining both spiritual maturity and practical experience. Is it hard to find men and women who combine both? Sure it is, like most things truly worth having, it will take effort. But is it worth the effort? A few short years from now (1? 100? 1,000? 1,000,000?) We will know for sure that it was. “Only ONE LIFE, soon to be passed, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

The best mentors of my life have been men who love God. Some have had great business skills and experience, some haven’t. The amazing thing is that some of the very best business advice I have gotten came from those who had the least business experience but the best ability to hear from God. Or is that amazing? Think about it. Who knows what we really need and what we really need to choose?

If this all makes sense to you and you would like to find God’s mentor(s) for you start by asking Him. He knows even now just who and where they are and how you can connect with them. Ask Him! Then watch…