Will It All Be for Nothing?
Did your mentors waste their time on you?
All of us stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. We owe a debt to the parents, mentors, teachers, and friends who helped shape us into who we are today. God placed each of them in our lives, imperfect as they are, to help form us into the Christlike servants He calls us to be.
For mentors who follow Christ, their greatest desire isn’t just to see you succeed. They long to see you walk with God, love truth, and impact others with that same truth. They want you to keep running and to pass the baton of faith to others who will keep running after you.
But was it all a waste? Were you a good investment of their time? The truth is, once that baton is passed, your mentors can’t run the race for you. You must run for yourself.
In Philippians 2, after urging the believers to live out their salvation with humility, to do all things without complaining, and to shine as lights in a dark and crooked world, Paul tells them to “hold fast to the word of life.” Then he adds an honest reason behind that challenge: “That I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain” (v.16).
Of all the trials Paul faced, prison, persecution, and the threat of death under Nero, his greatest fear wasn’t suffering—It was that his work in their lives might be in vain. He worried that the believers he had poured into would drift from their faith, wasting the investment of his labor, tears, and prayers. Even while chained in prison, Paul’s concern wasn’t for himself. It was for the Philippians’ perseverance. Would they keep shining? Would they keep holding fast to the Word of life?
There are many reasons to honor Christ with our lives, all flowing from our desire to glorify God above all else. But this one is worth remembering: people have invested in you. Parents, pastors, mentors, and friends have prayed, taught, encouraged, and guided you. Will their investment be wasted?
How can we make sure it isn’t? Here are several practical admonitions:
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Make and stick to a personal commitment to follow Jesus through your whole life (Matthew 16:24; Joshua 24:15). It’s not enough to say, “My parents believed this” or “My pastors and church leaders believed this.” Following Jesus must be your own, personal commitment. Prioritize time with God, seek to know Him personally, and come to love Him as your own.
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Get real about sin (Hebrews 3:13; James 1:14-15; 2 Timothy 2:22). One of the most obvious ways a mentor’s investment can be wasted is if we are disqualified in the race through sin. Be on guard against spiritual apathy, lust, sins of addition and vice, and entertaining yourself to death. Flee those youthful lusts that war against your soul. Recognize temptation and take it seriously before it hardens your heart.
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Value appropriate loyalty (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 2 Timothy 1:3-5). I’ve watched many men and women, as they’ve grown in maturity, completely dismiss their mentors and even bash them. While we may develop our own convictions and sometimes disagree with those who invested in us, it is never appropriate to belittle or undermine them. Remember: when you disrespect an authority in your life, you also undermine the example you set for those who follow you. Celebrate the lessons they’ve taught you, thank them for their influence, and speak positively of them. The way you honor your spiritual mentors serves as a model for how others should honor theirs.
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Set spiritual goals for your life (2 Peter 3:18; Philippians 3:12-14). We are called to grow in maturity, discipline, and Christlikeness. Don’t wander aimlessly; set goals and pursue them intentionally for God’s glory. Attempt great things for Him, and set achievable steps that stretch you spiritually.
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Join and serve the church (Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:24-25). Being part of a local church places you in the current of necessary growth for your entire life. It provides teaching, fellowship, accountability, opportunities to serve others, and occasions to share the Gospel. It also exposes you to loving rebuke and encouragement—all vital for a faith that endures.
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Intentionally pass on the faith to others (2 Timothy 2:2). Your mentors didn’t just give you a gift to hold onto—they handed you a baton to pass on. Be intentional about sharing your faith with others: younger believers, friends who are far from God, and even your own family or children. Let the investment made in you continue to bear fruit as you disciple and encourage the next generation.
May we each take what we’ve been given and invest it in others. As Paul told Timothy, “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).