My friend
Jeff was asked by his daughter to officiate at her wedding. This would be a
great joy as they traveled to an exotic and romantic location for the ceremony.
But there was one major problem—because the wedding party was very small, Jeff
would have to perform three separate roles that could be in conflict. He would
be the officiating minister, the father of the bride, and the wedding
photographer!
Have you
ever felt as if you were wearing too many hats? Jethro thought his son-in-law
Moses was (Ex. 18). Leading the Israelites, arbitrating personal disputes, and
handing down legal judgments for a great multitude was taking its toll.
Finally, Jethro approached Moses, telling him: “This thing is too much for you;
you are not able to perform it by yourself” (v.18). He wisely counseled Moses
to delegate smaller disputes to other advisors and take the more challenging
cases himself (v.22).
Whether
you’re a mother with small children, an overwhelmed business executive, or an
overworked church volunteer, you too can take a lesson from Moses. Why not
prayerfully discern if there may be tasks you can delegate to others or even
discontinue—so that you don’t wear yourself out.
If
we don’t come apart and rest awhile, we may just plain come apart! (RBC)
