Ways to Serve: Preparation

By Alethia McBrayer

You're on the plane about to take off and the stewardess starts explaining safety and emergency protocols. She tells you your oxygen masks are above you and will drop down if cabin pressure changes. They strongly urge that you first place a mask on yourself before assisting others.

The same is true with our spiritual safety. Yes, we need women willing to teach Bible classes of all ages and even friends in the community; however, if we do not concentrate on our own study first, how will we be able to help others? Jesus said;  ‘’And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye’’ (Matthew 7:3-5). In order for us to be able to teach we should first learn ourselves so we can be ready to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15). We see in Luke 2:52 that Jesus grew in wisdom and in favor with God and man. Later we see the devil tempts Jesus and He uses scripture to refute (Matthew 4:1-11). Because Jesus saw the need for learning Himself at an early age he was able to defeat the devil and also teach others.

Find a Mentor

One of the biggest blessings that we have in the church is the many mentors that we may acquire. I know I personally have several women in my life that have been amazing influences on me whether or not they realize it. In the book of Proverbs we read several times of how we must seek it, as well as where to find it.  In chapter 16 and verse 31 we read that “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory”. In this proverb we see that with age comes wisdom and we should seek wise counsel; for wisdom is far more precious than rubies and than fine gold  (Proverbs 8:10-11). There are many places where you can find a woman like this. Maybe it's your elder’s wife, preacher's wife or a counselor at camp. You have probably already been in a situation where you have had a mentor. Maybe it's your parents, or your older sibling. You learn behavioral habits from them. Good mentors teach you the way to act while also backing up what they have said with their example. Unfortunately these treasures are few and far between so, when you find her, hold her close for she is precious. 

Heed the Counsel

Now, if you have a mentor you have the first ingredient to the equation. However, as you may have guessed we don't stop there. In order for a mentor to actually help you grow in wisdom and knowledge,  is to heed their counsel. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). Listen to counsel and receive instruction, “That you may be wise in your latter days” (Proverbs 19:20). It is foolish to shun the counsel of the wise. Not only is it foolish and ignorant, but it shows a lack of maturity. In the book of 1 kings we read of a king whose name was Rehoboam. He was the son of king Solomon. Israel came to Rehoboam and asked him to lighten their load. He sent them away so he could ask for counsel. He did right and asked the counselors who had served his father before him.

They advised that if he would lessen the load the people would be loyal to him, however, King Rehoboam did not listen to their wise counsel. Instead he listened to his friends. Those whom he had grown up with. Their advice was to make Israel's burden heavier than Solomon had made it. This caused Rehoboam to lose all except the tribe of Judah. When we find wise counselors and ask for their advice, we should listen. We know that if we seek wisdom we will find it.  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). 

Restart the Cycle

God set up principles and standards for us to follow. He has given us women in our lives who can help us to learn these standards and grow.  Not only is it needful for them to do so, but it is also a command. “The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,  to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed”(Titus 2:3-5). Even the older women first had to learn. What were they to do after they themselves had also learned? Teach! Once we ourselves also acquire wisdom, knowledge and discretion; we too are commanded to teach. If we only take, we will then deprive others of the same blessings we have had in mentors. Some new Christians may not be able to understand and you may need to help them just as Phillip helped the eunuch (Acts 8:30-31). After all of this we need to restart the cycle so that we can prepare someone else to serve.