Ruth 1:1-18; 1Thessalonians 2:1-8
The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines ‘Mentoring’ as ‘the practice of helping and advising a less experienced person over a period of time, especially as part of a formal programme in a company, university, etc’. This indicates on one hand a person taking time to teach or instruct, and, on the other hand another taking time to sit and be taught or instructed. The end result is that the teacher produces a student who is capable to function in the intended area of expertise.
Relational mentoring is driven by humility which in turn causes us to be vulnerable to each other. We get into each other’s space so much that it allows us to see into each other’s strengths and weaknesses. And that is where learning happens. Jesus is the perfect example of a relational mentor. ‘And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons’ (Mark 3:13-15). ‘Being with Him’, that is, spending time with Him enabled the disciples to see Jesus at his strongest and weakest moments. They saw him spend time in prayer, perform miracles and rebuke those who needed it. They saw and listened to him teach. They had the advantage to receive deeper interpretation of what Jesus taught and thus obtained greater understanding. Being with Him, enabled them to do ministry even when he had long ascended to heaven.
Relational mentoring calls the mentor to spend considerable chunks of time just pouring him/herself into the mentee. Ruth valued her relationship with her mother-in-law so much that she refused to return to her home, and instead chose to travel to Bethlehem with her (Ruth 1:16-18). As they journeyed back to Bethlehem, Naomi must have told Ruth about how and why they had moved to Moab. Now that Elkana had died, they would have to rely of his relatives to care and provide for them. She intentionally instructed and sent Ruth to Boaz’s farm because he was their relative (Ruth 2:20-23). He was also among those who were in line as their kinsman redeemer. This instruction not only landed Ruth at this farm, but also enabled them to be cared for in the short and long run. At the right time, Boaz was finally declared their ideal kinsman redeemer and he took the two women in his household (Ruth 3-4).
Relational mentoring helps the mentee to see the mentor in their humanness and it makes lessons gleaned thereof valuable for life. And so, the wise teacher notes, ‘Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm’. (Proverbs 3:20).
