A “Paul” is somebody who has been a Christian longer than you and is helping to train and encourage you. That person may only be a month older than you, but he or she has probably walked longer with the Lord and is more spiritually mature and can mentor you.

A “Timothy” is somebody who hasn’t been a Christian as long as you whose faith you are helping to build. You offer that person encouragement and discipleship as he or she grows in the Lord.

So, you have a Paul and a Timothy in your life. But you are also a Paul and a Timothy to others.

In 2 Timothy, Paul says this to Timothy: “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2 NIV).

We see four generations in that verse. Paul says to Timothy that he helped mentor him, meaning Paul guided him to spiritual maturity. Now Timothy must find somebody to mentor, and then that person can find somebody else to mentor.

Don’t be intimidated by the word “mentoring.” Mentoring is as easy as taking someone to breakfast once a month and asking, “How’s it going?” You just need to be a friend. Listen to, encourage, and pray for that person. You don’t have to be a “perfect Christian” to do this. You just have to be willing.

To fully live out God’s calling on your life, you need other people. You will more fully grow as a disciple when you learn from other believers who are more mature than you and when you share your wisdom and experience with believers who are younger than you.