iRetire4Him - Why Mentoring is Important

New ideas can be exciting and overwhelming.  Is purposeful retirement a new idea to you?  When you think of building intentionality and mentoring into retirement, it can seem like an awesome feat.  But God’s plan is rarely complicated and usually something He has equipped us for.  Remember the KISS Principle? (Keep It Simple Stupid).

When a concept is kept simple and communicated with the Kiss principle, all of us can rejoice.

Let’s look at being a mentor through the lens of the KISS principle.  

You don’t have to go back school or learn a special program.  Being a mentor is as simple as Loving God and Loving people.  Jesus used the KISS principle to summarize the Law and the Prophets in those two sentences.  We know that Jesus understands complex.  He was there when the world was created. He was there when calculus, physics and time were created.  Yet, Jesus schooled the Pharisees when he summarized the Old Testament in those two sentences.

Love God.  Love people.

Religious people today still struggle to understand the simplicity of these words.  

Love God.

Love people.

If you love God, you will obey Him.  If you love people, you will treat them as you wish to be treated.  Keep it simple. 

Mentoring is building relationships and sharing life. Our life lessons can be related back to faith and the impact Jesus has had on our lives.

Mentoring the next generations can “simply” look like this:

Teaching the next generations in your life/church/neighborhood/family how to cook…with real food…that isn’t in a box. Lots of talking happens when you cook and young people appreciate good cooking just like anyone else.  Just invite them over to make a meal together and then sit around the table to enjoy it.

Invite the next generation for a car cleaning day. Wash, wax, maintenance, and general upkeep can be done shoulder to shoulder.  Model for them how to be a good steward of their investment.

Just hang out.  

Many of us live next door to younger people who have no family around. Whether it’s due to miles, alienation, orphaned, or choice – your neighbor may be craving interaction with someone older and wiser.  We all get to a point in our lives when we value older people, and realize that it centers us. You can have no agenda and a lot of time.  This kind of mentoring could be watching kids, sharing a meal, working on a handyman project, or drinking lemonade on the patio.  Remember just keep it simple.

Luke 10:27New Living Translation (NLT)

27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”[a]

Next week:  Pre-retirement investing into the next generations. Apprenticeship like mentoring

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!