We can learn a lot from how Jesus lived. Take for example his time alone with God, his time speaking, or how he treated children. But something often taken for granted is how he treated those closest to him. When we look at the life of Jesus, we see just how intentional he was with the people around him.
Jesus intentionally poured into his disciples. Peter, James, and John were often seen as the closest to Jesus, his inner circle. Jesus was preparing the next generation of leaders to excel and succeed once he left. He was preparing who was next.
That begs the question, who are you investing in?
Whether you’re 70 and recently retired or 25 and just graduated college we are called to be intentionally investing in people. It’s often easy to think of pouring into people as an exclusively managerial task for the workforce. However, I would argue that investing in people for the sake of Christ’s kingdom is far more important than investing in the person you’re training at work.
Jesus did a lot while he was on the earth, but at the end of the day there were a few hundred people who interacted closely with him, and just a few thousand that got the chance to hear him speak. Jesus knew that he needed to multiply himself.
Often, when looking at the Gospels there are key moments where Jesus told a story to the crowd and immediately after would have to explain and clarify the meaning to his disciples. He was extremely intentional with their understanding and their growth.
How do I properly pour into someone?
While investing in the people next to us is clearly important, it’s not always obvious how to actually do it. Most importantly, intentionality is the key to success.
Being intentional with the people around you invites them in, it lets them know that you care about them and have their best interests in mind.
Next, make sure that your time with these adds value and is a positive experience for them. Ask questions, learn about their personality, what makes them tick and what motivates them. Finding the answers to these questions will give you enough information on whether you need to take them to a hockey game, or go attend a seminar together.
Finally, help them take steps spiritually. If they are regular attendees, but they aren’t yet serving at the church, help them take that step. If they have been serving faithfully on Sunday for years, start a small group with them.
So, whether you’re the guy greeting people as they walk in or the preacher on Sunday morning, you have a next. The questions you need to begin asking yourself are, who’s coming up behind me, and how can I help the person behind me to succeed more than I have. Jesus set up his disciples to win, they were well trained and well prepared, and intentionally pursued. Now it’s our turn.
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