“Border Song” by Sir Elton John, performed by Aretha Franklin.
You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.
Jethro and Moses, as in Exodus 18, watercolor by James Tissot (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
These are words of wisdom given to Moses by his father-in-law, Jethro. As leader of the Exodus, Moses was also the defacto chief operating officer. Where there is a group of people, there are affairs to be managed. Needs have to be met, conflicts have to be resolved, and judgement must be fair. When Jethro came to visit, he saw how Moses toiled alone in ministering to the needs and demands of the people. Having wisdom, he knew that Moses was at risk for burn-out, which would be disastrous. Because Jethro loved Moses and feared God, he gave his son-in-law specific instructions that would help him manage the people without destroying his health and sanity. Exodus 18: 19-24 tells us what he said:
19 “Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” 24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
You Don’t Have to Do Everything (Even If You Can).
The stress of doing the Lord’s work continues even in our age of convenience. But the advice remains the same. We are to order our work loads, select help and teach them how to manage their assignments. Now there are two sides to this equation: the doer (Moses) and the advisor (Jethro). If you are the doer, beware of pride. Pride that we can do it all can tempt us into doing everything. Jethro’s statement echoes through the ages: “The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.”
If Moses had started to love his role as leader more than he loved the Lord, he would have had a problem listening to Jethro. Failing to listen would have compromised his effectiveness and caused the people to suffer. If you are on the advisor side of this equation, beware of indifference and coldness of heart as well as pride. Don’t say to yourself “I see what they’re doing wrong, but I’m not gonna say anything. They think they know so much. Wait ‘til they fall on their face.” Such an attitude is demonic. Run from it as if it was the plague and ask the Lord to forgive and change your wrong attitude so that you can better serve Him! Proverbs 3:27-35 (KJV) tells us:
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
If you have wisdom, share it! Christians should help bear one another’s burdens. We are to be “kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” Ephesians 4:32 (English Standard Version, ESV). If you share your wisdom with others, in love, and if others don’t heed your advise, their failure to act will be their responsibility alone. If you fail to advise or warn them, then you have decided to become a part of the problem, for which the Lord will hold you accountable.
Until we meet again: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!” (Ephesians 6:10).
– Verneda
(Twitter handle: @vlights)
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“Border Song” by Sir Elton John, performed by Aretha Franklin was posted on Youtube.com by Luca891, December 19, 2011. Verneda Lights and E-graphX Omnimedia have no ownership in this video. It is used for educational purposes only.
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