Be a Barnabas; Train a Timothy; Pursue a Paul

I have spoke before the importance of Mentorship in our lives and surrounding ourselves with others that with will have a positive impact in our lives.  A friend from church said a phrase that I love, that I want to share with you. He told us that we all need to “Be a Barnabas, Train a Timothy, and Pursue a Paul”. So, what does this really mean?

Be a Barnabas

One wonders if Paul would have made it without Barnabas. The Damascus dust may still have been on Paul’s sandals. The fear of Paul’s murderous threats toward those of the Way was still very much a reality when Barnabas took Paul to the apostles and vouched for the veracity of his testimony (Acts 9:26,27). Barnabas did not have to do this, but this act of encouragement provided a necessary link between Paul and the fulfillment of his calling. Several years later, Barnabas was prompted by the Holy Spirit to look for Paul (Acts 11:25). No doubt the Damascus Road testimony had been forgotten by most, but not by Barnabas.

Barnabas, in keeping with his name, always seemed to be looking for someone to encourage in the ministry. The Tarsus tentmaker had seemingly been overlooked by the established church and bypassed for meaningful ministry assignments. But Barnabas remembered. Because of Barnabas’ influence, the Antioch church found a place for Paul and helped him develop trusted relationships and a respected teaching ministry (Acts 11:26; 13:1,2).

This was not the only time Barnabas took such an initiative. Remember John Mark (Acts 15:37)? Regardless of the baggage or failure from the past, Barnabas was there. He was the encourager.

I feel that when you encourage others in whatever their pursuits in life are, the same encouragement that you need will fall back onto you (Proverbs 11:25).  Each of us need our own Barnabas to encourage us in our lives. Maybe this is our Spouse, a friend, co-worker, or a family member. Yet, I believe that we need to take action and encourage others first.

Producing Honey in beBee is a great way that you way encourage others. We each have our own gifts and purpose, and their is someone out their needing our specific help. 

Train a Timothy

The next key ministry-development relationship we observe in the New Testament is embodied in training. When, as a minister, you find a willing, motivated follower, take time and expend energy, and invest in training. Training is a cyclical activity involving instruction, implementation, observation, and evaluation. In this model, the event of teaching/instruction is but one component in the process of training. Training gives further opportunity for implementation and observation with evaluative feedback, followed by further instruction as necessary with the cycle continuing.

Intentional training is needed in the ranks of our ministers today. Skills need to be learned and competencies need to be refined. Many young Timothys desperately need increased effectiveness. They need to be well-trained.

While the primary result may be that the young minister is trained and more effective, several things happen as a by-product of this activity. Benefit also comes to the one doing the training. As the teacher shares the principles, they are further highlighted in the teacher’s mind and heart, thereby strengthening the faith and resolve in the one doing the training. Additionally, a certain amount of accountability is applied to the life of the one doing the training, “so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:27). Furthermore, joy wells up in the heart of the one investing the training energy whenever those influenced become effective in the work of God. The aged apostle John, referencing his friend Gaius, said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 4).

Well-trained ministers have a better potential for longevity in ministry just as well-trained marathon runners have a better chance at finishing the race. Train a Timothy. In addition, the process and discipline of training another can have a positive effect on the trainer through reinforcement of truth. It brings accountability and adds a joy factor to the ministry.

This is not just is the Truth of our Lord’s Word. A great example about this is a scene I saw in a movie. The character said he wanted to learn more, yet while he was talking he was telling the Master how much he already knew.  The Master noticed this and pouring tea for himself. He then poured the student a cup of tea and kept pouring the tea and the cup began overflowing. The student keep talking and the Master kept pouring until, tea spilled on the floor and the student noticed and stop talking.  The Master point was “He couldn’t fill a cup that is already full”.  So, the Master gave this student another student to teach what he knew before more lessons were to be taught.  This is like the phrase, “Learn, Do, Teach”

Pursue a Paul

Much is being said today about mentoring. The need, no doubt, is being exacerbated by sociological realities of the 21st century. The breakdown in the home where sons and daughters have distant or nonexistent relationships with their fathers certainly has had a negative effect on leadership development. In times past, the son worked alongside his father, learning not only skill and competency, but also behavior and values. Where does this happen today?

Real life is very different from laboratory theory. An education in itself does not prepare one for life. Just as an airplane has two wings, the cognitive must be balanced with practical application.

Think of the list of individuals in the New Testament who were impacted by the apostle Paul. Did this take place in a formal classroom for Titus, Onesimus, Luke, and Silas? Probably not. Rather, their foundational training in the Scriptures was given context and application as the apostolic ministry team went from city to city.

Who is the 21st century Paul you are pursuing? Observation tells us that mentoring is not best accomplished through a formal program. Mentoring takes place best as the one desiring formational input pursues.

“Will you mentor me?” is probably not the right question. Mentoring takes place as we watch, listen, serve, follow, learn, read, glean, emulate.

In Elisha’s day, this process took place as “the two of them walked on” (2 Kings 2:6*). “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you,” embodies the resolve Elisha had in pursuing Elijah.

Mentoring is not something someone does to someone else; it is the result of a diligent pursuit of another’s life and ministry. So, pursue a Paul. Look around. Key in on someone you respect. Prayerfully ask the Lord to lead you to the influencers who can have formational impact on your life.

Pursuing a Paul is also the hardest for people. Paul was much more than just a mentor.  He would tell it like it is, TRUTH WITH LOVE.  This is sometimes hard for people to hear.  I, myself, had a trouble time about ten fifteen years ago in my life and blamed outside circumstances.  A friend, who was my Paul, and out of Love, told me that my Pain was from my own doing. It was the Truth, painful, yet what I needed to hear.  I also asked for help. This was the first time a friend gave me constructive criticism. I did not like it at the time, yet it help change my life.