The road travelled alone…is the wrong road.

Probing Proverbs: 4:3-6 For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child. My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.

The beginning of my relationship with the Lord was a very fortunate one. God orchestrated a connection to a man that was committed, mature and willing to mentor (disciple) me. He had me teaching lessons to other men within the first 3 weeks of my walk with God. Since that time my life has always included discipleship. I was always being discipled and I was always discipling others. The entire 22 years that I spent in the Philippines was revolving around discipleship.

One of the practical truths communicated in scripture is the need to listen to a mentor. I use that term because some seem to define the word “disciple” in some mystical way. The word disciple simply means “learner”  (μαθητεύω mathēteúō; from mathētḗs...When I took Greek, I would remember this word by connecting it to Matthew, because he was a disciple of Christ!)  So when you are a “learner” (disciple) you need a “mentor” (discipler) – nothing mystical about it.

We were created for community...even Adam needed another human. For most of us our first mentors will be our parents, but not everyone has a parent and many that do, their parents are spiritually bankrupt. My parents were great mentors on moral fiber and good work ethic, and even being kind to others, but I did not get much spiritual guidance. The real issue I want to deal with is the principle of discipleship, no matter your background or age. Whoever God has placed into your life that influences your life for good, you need to heed their advice. 
When you are mature enough to understand that someone that has lived longer than you, learned more than you and lives in a way that testifies of God, can give you wisdom that will spare you the grief of learning the hard way, you will do well to open your heart to their words. Learning from others mistakes is far less painful than being stubborn and learning it on your own. If the Body of Christ would commit to being a discipler and being discipled, we would not see the up and down living of each generation. A disciple listens to the “data” that is communicated, watches the “model” that is before them, and gains wisdom. Wisdom keeps an open ear and is teachable!

Throughout the Proverbs we are also told that wisdom produces good judgment. To emphasize its importance wisdom is presented as a person so we can think in terms of a relationship. Consider the description here - when we "turn our back" on someone, we know that they are there but are refusing to allow them access to us. The picture is very clear - we know that wisdom is there but refuse to allow it to influence our life. When we "love" wisdom we embrace it and commit to have it in our life. It is not just a one night affair! It becomes a lifetime commitment. When we are willing to take that step to come under the teaching of a discipler that God has sent, and learn God’s wisdom, God Himself becomes our protector, not our schemes or weapons. God Himself guards us from coming under the rule of fear! Don’t flirt with wisdom, commit to it!

The so what? Is there someone in your life that is encouraging you to be close to God? If not, why? Are you will to ask God to bring that person into your life? Are there individual that you are intentionally seeking to encourage in their walk with God? If not, why? In Matt 28:19-20 Jesus gave the key thing we need to focus on in our life. Are you doing that? Do you believe God wants to use your life to impact others? If you are feeding others, who is feeding you?