Through his life and ministry, the apostle Paul demonstrated that there are three types of people you need to have in your life. This week we are going to look at the first: Barnabas.
Barnabas, whose name means “Son of Encouragement”, was one of the first Christian believers in the church in Jerusalem. We don’t know how he met Saul (Paul) but immediately he was struck by Saul/Paul’s conversion. Barnabas then did three things in Paul’s life that had a lifelong impact:
1.) Barnabas saw potential in Paul. After Paul’s conversion No one else truly believed that Paul had changed from being a rabid persecutor of Christians to being a champion for Christ. Barnabas saw that change in Paul and vouched for him with the disciples who initially didn’t want anything to do with him. It only takes one person in our lives to see potential in us and then act upon it. Barnabas saw potential in Paul’s life and began to show Paul what it meant to be a Christian,
2.) Barnabas showed Paul what ministry was about. After Paul returned to Tarsus, Barnabas journeyed there to invite Paul to come minister in Antioch and then Asia Minor. As they traveled, Barnabas modeled to Paul how to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Barnabas also showed Paul how to react in adversity and prosperity. At the beginning of their relationship they are referred to as “Barnabas and Saul” while at the end of their missionary journey they are referred to as “Paul and Barnabas”. Paul began to take precedence in this relationship as he applied what Barnabas was teaching and showing him about ministry.
3.) Barnabas may have stopped mentoring Paul, but he continued to mentor others. As Paul and Barnabas’s relationship came to a bumpy end, Barnabas didn’t stop mentoring. Instead, he began to mentor John Mark and ultimately Paul would come to see the value in Barnabas mentoring John Mark.
Barnabas held a very a special place in the life of Paul. Barnabas was Paul’s first mentor. Barnabas was someone who poured into the life of Paul and made a difference. I’m sure as you reflect on your life there are those individuals who saw potential in you as a leader. Someone who took time and energy to invest and pour into your life. It could have been a teacher, a pastor, someone at your first job. If weren’t for them, you wouldn’t be where you are today.
Leaders need to constantly be surrounded by people who “pour into”, or mentor them. Leaders recognize that there is always someone who is further along in the leadership journey than they are. Find a mentor, find a Barnabas who will continue to help you to grow.
Conversation:
- Who have been those mentors in your life?
- Who currently is your mentor?
Recommended Reading
Think about the people who influenced your life most.
Why did they do it? What did they do? How did they go about it? Answer these questions and you will be hooked on mentoring for the rest of your life.
In As Iron Sharpens Iron, respected authors Howard and Bill Hendricks show that the most dramatic spiritual and personal growth often happens through the influence of a mentor.
Rooted in biblical principles, this book is both a profound and practical guide to mentoring relationships for men. You'll learn how to:
- Identify the kind of mentor you need
- Maximize your mentoring relationship
- Model your relationship after biblical examples
- Grow through the shared wisdom of another believer
- Influence others as you replicate the mentoring process.
Whether you are looking for a mentor or wish to mentor someone else, this book provides specific steps to begin the relationship and make the most of it.