Wednesdays with Moses

Read Exodus 18:17-22 – So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you.” (NKJV)

Are you doing too much? Regardless of your “level” in the many areas of life, it can be very easy to depend so much on yourself that you become stretched beyond reasonable limits. Moses took leading God’s people seriously. For that He deserves much credit. But along the way, it seems he picked up the idea that he had to stand alone at the top of the leadership heap. He had to do it all. Was that really God’s expectation? Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law certainly didn’t think so. He showed Moses that his current approach wasn’t healthy, that he was controlling too much and failing to develop the potential in others. Through training others and teaching the people how to handle many of their own affairs, Moses could actually make the lives of his people healthier—and he’d be healthier too. If you’re doing it all—or a higher percentage than you should—look at Jethro’s advice and see that there are answers in praying for those you lead, teaching them the best decision-making patterns, and equipping others to carry a part of the load. Don’t let your capacity form the limit of your family, organization or ministry.

– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.