A LESSON IN LEADERSHIP
Exodus 18
Are WE too often too busy?
Problem all over the world:
Whether we travel to Guatemala or Mexico, the Philippines, or Papua New Guinea: People are overloaded, overworked, burned out, while others stand around watching.
It affects leaders in all kinds of ministries: pastors, missionaries, elders, SS teachers, business people and homemakers.
We all “bite off more than we can chew!”– trying to carry too heavy a load on our own shoulders.
When we are overworked, drained and exhausted--no matter how godly we may be--irritation sets in, followed by loss of perspective, burn out, and sometimes even loss of family.
A pastor confessed: “My wife left me because I had another lover. I was married to my church!”
This seems to be a special danger in Christian work--the feeling we must work ourselves to death to overcome guilt, or to gain the approval of God, or other people.
We’re not alone in this problem.
Moses experienced the same pressure.
Close look at Ex. 18 can benefit us all, regardless of our job or profession.
Lessons apply to all of us--Christian professionals, teachers, students, all who have responsibility –especially those who tend to do more than we should to accomplish our responsibilities.
As Moses traveled through the desert, God gave him many victories.
It was becoming apparent he could not handle Israel’s affairs by himself.
God used a visit by Jethro to give him wise counsel.
Jethro heard of mighty works God performed through Moses. 18:1
He brought Moses’ wife and two sons for a visit. 18:1-7
As we listen in on the dialogue between Moses and Jethro, we can learn an important Lesson in Leadership!
TESTIMONY TO THE GREATNESS OF YAHWEH 8-12
Jethro was a priest of Midian--a descendant of Abraham by Keturah
He may have been familiar with Yahweh through his family.
He may have been priest like Melchizedek; worshiped Yahweh.
Moses acknowledges what God had done for them 18:8
This is the one guy in the world--it seems--Moses can unload on!
Moses needs a sounding board--someone he knows loves him.
He tells him the whole story--the hard times and the blessings.
Jethro is able to encourage him.
He’s also able to tell him the truth; tell him things he needs to hear.
Jethro acknowledges God’s greatness
He has heard of him
Now he discovers what a great God Yahweh is 9-11
He praises Him and acknowledges Him as sovereign over all others.
Jethro leads them in worship 12
Jethro offers sacrifices to Yahweh. Everyone joins him.
It was a great family reunion!
A chance to get both sides of the family together--along with Israel’s leaders--and celebrate what God has done for them.
Moses allows Jethro to lead them in worship–probably indicates that he’s a priest of the true God.
As Jethro watched Moses’ activities the following day, he observes Moses supervising the affairs of the people.
WISE COUNSEL FOR A GODLY LEADER 18:13-26
Jethro notices something anyone who watches spiritual leaders notices.
[You will soon discover that spiritual leaders, like most other people, are . . . ]
Too often too busy! 18:13-14a
Two key questions: 14b
1. What are you doing? (Priorities)
2. Why are you doing it alone?
You’re doing the work, while all the people are standing around watching!
2 questions should be asked of any overworked, burned out, leader: What are you doing? Why are you doing it by yourself?
“That’s why we’re paying him the big bucks!”
[Moses answers Jethro with . . . ] A typical response: 15-16
“I’m doing all this work because people keep coming to me!”
“They need me!”
They come looking for me!
“I can’t turn them away!”
“I was in neighborhood. Nothing better to do. So I thought I’d stop by and talk for a while!”
“They expect me to solve their problems for them!”
[Jethro gives Moses . . . ] Wise counsel 17-23
Jethro doesn’t approve of what Moses is doing 17-18
You’re hurting yourself and your people--you’re going to dry up!
You’re going to burn out.
Your people will end up worse off.
--you won’t be able to help them
--they won’t be able to help themselves--they won’t know what to do--you’re not teaching them to solve their own problems
We all fall into this trap too easily--I certainly do!
We say “yes” to too many things.
We need frequent reminders to back off and “Just say ‘No!’” to some things.
Or we’ll wear ourselves out--dry up and become useless.
God has given us special abilities--We need to focus on what He has called us to do.
When we try to do too many things--especially things God hasn’t “wired us” to do--we’re going to wear ourselves out and NOT do what we do best.
That doesn’t mean never do anything else--but be sure God is directing your steps!
If you keep trying to do it all yourself,
you and your people will suffer!
We are not exempt from the consequences of natural law.
An old Greek saying: “You’ll break the bow if you keep it always bent.”
That’s why we focus on –“building up to reach out!“
”Equipping the saints to do the work of ministry”
–training saints to transform the world
God’s people have to carry out the work of the ministry--NOT paid staff.
We too often hear: “But that’s what we pay them to do!”
Too often, pastors and other leaders are prone to do more than we should.
People let us do it!
Jethro warns us that’s a formula for failure.
Formula which leads to burnout:
People stand around watching leaders work.
Formula which leads to effective service:
All the people mobilized for ministry.
If you keep going that way, “you and these people who come to you will both wear yourselves out!
The work is too heavy for you; you can’t handle it alone!”
[Jethro offers alternative: ] Four priorities for godly leaders: 19-22
Leaders need to focus on these--not attending meetings and solving everyone’s problems!
1. Dedicate yourself to prayer 19
You be the people’s representative before God.
Bring their concerns to Him.
2 Dedicate yourself to teach the people 20
Primary role of godly leaders: make disciples.
Teach them God’s laws--let them know what GOD says.
When preacher is wrapped up in administrative details and secondary callings, pulpit ministry suffers.
He can’t do main thing God has called him to do: teach the Word!
Teach them how they should walk.
Teaach them what they should do.
3. Select godly leaders to lead and share the load with you. 21
People who are:
Capable (gifted)
God-fearing (godly character)
Trustworthy (honest, “men of truth”)
People who hate dishonest gain
Find that kind of people an put them in charge.
When we find this kind of leaders, God’s people will respect them and accept their leadership.
Oswald Sanders: “God assumes responsibility for enabling His man to fulfill every task to which He has appointed him. Now there are some self-imposed tasks which others can do better than we, and we should relinquish them. But even should they do them worse, we should still relinquish them--a severe test for the perfectionist.”
Swindoll: “When you know how to do the job better than anyone else, it’s difficult to hand it over to someone who’s still learning, who may drop the ball, who sometimes fumbles and trips and requires a clean-up team in his wake. But that’s the price you pay, and it’s worth it.
Beacon: The availability of seniors for powerful ministry.--church like ours should be taking advantage of seniors available for ministry!
4. You deal with major issues others can’t resolve 22
As godly leaders model godly decision making, others will learn from their example how to make similar decisions.
Jethro counseled Moses to delegate authority to capable, God-fearing, trustworthy men.
NAS concludes v. 22 saying “it will be easier on you.”
That’s a worthy purpose: to lighten your load.
There’s nothing virtuous about being overloaded!
Moses would serve as teacher and handle more difficult problems that they couldn’t resolve.
Have you noticed the parallels with NT solution in Acts 6?
3 Priorities:
“We will give our attention to prayer and to the ministry of the Word”
“Choose seven men . . . known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” (godly and gifted) and we’ll turn this responsibility over to them.
Fundamental Condition for Success: “If God so commands 23
God’s approval 18:23 (+ v. 19 (“and may God be with you” (in this)))
“If you do this, and if God so commands, . . . “
Just doing it isn’t enough.
It will only be effective if it’s in agreement with God’s plan.
This would seem to be an effective way of enlarging your ministry and satisfying the people.
“If you do this, . . . you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied, IF GOD SO COMMANDS!”
Answer isn’t in a program.
Answer is to do God’s will!
Proper priority: To do God’s will.
If God isn’t in it, all the programs in the world won’t work.
Moses, the godly leader, followed Jethro’s godly advice before sending him back to his home. 24-26
A godly leader follows godly counsel. 24-26
If you add 12 princes of tribes, 70 elders, and assume heads of 10 were responsible for heads of families, with their family under their authority, the administrative structure is realistic.
Result: # in group Total
Moses 1 1
12 Princes 12 12
70 Elders 5 60
Heads of 1000 10 600
Heads of 100 10 6,000
Heads of 50 2 12,000
Heads of 10 5 60,000
Heads of Family 10 600,000
Members of Family 4 2,400,000
With 2 ½ million people, no one’s responsible for more than 12!
God established plan for personal discipleship among His people.
It’s possible to lead a great nation in their spiritual development.
Overworked leaders could learn from Jethro’s counsel.
God never intended for spiritual leaders
to carry the load alone!
What are YOU doing? Why are you doing it ALONE?
How can YOU share the load with others?