Are You Investing?

Recently I had the opportunity to chat by phone with one of my young friends, John, who was in the great state of Alabama competing in an amateur golf tournament. I love it when I can catch up with one of these young people in person so it was great to have recently had him stay in our home, along with his brother, while competing in the Palmetto Am.

Our phone visit was a brief chat about some ideas he had about Bible study, about books I had shared with him, and about various things he and his brother, Will, were doing to grow their faith. It truly was a joy to talk to two young, handsome fellows who were excited and intent on growing their faith. They were hungry to learn.

Even when they did not make the cut in the Palmetto Am, they traveled back to Aiken for the last day to wait to meet a man, Art Williams, an outspoken Christian and a very accomplished person in the business world, who was caddying for his grandson. They were very familiar with Art and had listened to and read all of his motivational and inspirational material and were eager for the chance to meet him in person. I was inspired by their enthusiasm and admiration of Mr. Williams. I share a similar admiration for Art.

Hunger in such young men, to learn and seek wisdom and mentorship, was extremely motivating to me. Having just finished reading the book, “The Defining Decade….why your twenties matter–and how to make the most of them now,” I got to witness first-hand these two young men putting into play what was recommended in the book. Different areas were addressed in the book and stressed as really mattering for a young person in their twenties. (I think these things matter to anyone but especially to someone in their twenties.)

It blew me out of the water to listen to them tell me all that they download and listen to while they practice or travel in the car on road trips. These two young men had read many of the books I have read and I am 52. When I mentioned any book that I had read but they had not, they would scramble for their phones and make notes. In fact, I was blown away at their ability to carry on such insightful conversations and follow up with great questions.

The book they are both currently reading is Robert S. McGee’s “The Search for Significance”. Of course I had to go out and buy the book and start reading it today. We are going to have a book club over the phone, I guess. They just don’t know it yet! lol:)

The point of the post is this…make yourself available to mentor young people.

It was so much fun hearing and witnessing first-hand these two young men talk about having lunch with Mr. Williams. Telling me that Art had asked for their address so that he could write to them. They chatted for at least 30 minutes about all they had learned from this man who was willing to take the time to invest. They shared that Mr. Williams placed great importance on personal handwritten notes. He has written 7 notes per week for the last 35 years.

What I got to witness first-hand was Proverbs 9:9, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning.”

Titus 2 has much to say about teaching/mentoring the next generation. Here is just a portion found in verses 6-8, “Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”

There are young people out there who are eager to learn and grow. If you pray and ask God to show you who to invest your time with, He will.

I pray that we would be bold in our time of investing in others. Praying as requested in Ephesians 6:19-20, “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin

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