No matter what the subject is, balance is the key to a healthy life. Too much involvement in your job, writing, your church activities without proper family time leaves one out of balance. It is also true of mentoring. Balance is healthy. As a follower of Jesus, especially as a leader we need to take the necessary steps to ensure that we are making the most of our life. We want to make sure that we are building it in such a way that pleases God. To avoid building a life around hay, wood, and stubble and to receive praise from God as 1 Corinthians 3:12 and chapter 4:5 state, it is necessary to surround yourself with a relational network of accountability for growth and effective ministry. A lack of a relational structure of accountability leads to isolation, which enhances the risk of failure. Paul had this balanced approach in his life. He had Gamaiel and Barnabas as mentors. He had Timothy and Titus as well as others as mentorees and he had numerous peers as partners in the gospel. Paul did not isolate himself while in ministry. Until the end he surrounded himself with mentors, mentorees, and peers. He wrote letters, made personal visits, and shared with each of them. His network of accountability helped him maintain successful balance in relationships.

Whether you are a man or a woman you need peer relationships with high levels of trust and commitment for balance in your life. As a leader you need someone else on a peer level other than your spouse. With a high degree of expectations in business and ministry, many people often have hundreds if not thousands of acquaintances, but very few close friends with whom they can share openly and honestly with. Sometimes this takes the form of a peer group of friends where sharing and accountability take place.  While this may be helpful the downside is that too many people or the wrong mix of people tends to inhibit the depth of sharing and accountability. It is usually unable to reach the depth of a one on one relationship.

Mentoring is best done in one-on-one relationship and here’s why:
1. It is reproducible
2. It culls out non-leaders
3. It builds trust
4. Helps you to start with the end in mind.

More on these four tomorrow….