Last week, we looked at the first type of person the apostle Paul demonstrated we need to have in our life: Barnabas, the mentor. This week we look at another type of person we need in our lives.
After Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways, Paul looked for someone else to accompany him on his missionary journey and selected Silas. We don’t know much about Silas other than he was a leader in the Jerusalem church. When Paul decided to go back to some of the churches that he and Barnabas started in Asia Minor, Paul selected Silas to go with him. It is apparent that Paul and Silas’ relationship was different than Paul and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas had a mentor/protégé relationship while Paul and Silas had a peer relationship where they were both equals. Their relationship was one of mutual support and ministry.
Over the time of their ministry together, Paul and Silas experienced a lot. They were incarcerated together in Philippi, thrown out of the city of the Thessalonica and forced out of Berea. Paul and Silas truly did life together. (see Acts 16:19, 25, 29; 17:4, 10, 14, 15; 18:5) They helped each other stay strong and leveraged their individual strengths and weaknesses to be more effective in their ministry.
Just like Paul we need a Silas who is “doing life” along with us. Someone who we can count on to celebrate with us when we succeed and to lift us up when we fail. Someone who holds us accountable and asks the tough questions. Someone who is going to be there no matter what.
Your Silas is someone you can call at 2AM, call and say, “I need you” and without a second thought, they are immediately there to help. It is someone that you have cultivated a relationship with by doing life together and that you can call on no matter what. That is your Silas.
Conversation:
- Who is your Silas?
- Who are you a Silas to?
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.