Through the Bible - Exodus 20-22, Matthew 20:1-16
Good morning,
My "title" at work is Technical Service Manager. I receive a lot of calls regarding questions about our fabrics and their applications. I also field calls regarding warranty claims and try my best to bring them to an equitable resolution.
As I read Exodus 18 the other day, I realized that at times I feel a lot like Moses did. His father in law, Jethro, gave him some good and valuable advise that can apply to most, if not all of us, today in some capacity. It applies to church leaders, business, and even family matters.
Ex 18:19 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. 20 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. NKJV
or from the NLT
Ex 18:19 Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people's representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. 20 Teach them God's decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives.
A few verses earlier, Jethro had seen how Moses was dealing with all of their troubles, complaints, by himself. The people were well known for their complaining. Have you ever felt that way? I think that we could all take a lesson in learning to delegate, as Jethro instructs in the following verses.
Ex 18:22-23 They should always be available to solve the people's common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace."
Part of my job is to help train customer service, our salesmen, and those of our distributors about our products and their properties and applications so that when they field calls they may be able to answer them and help the customer, to bring possible complaints to an early resolution without even coming to me.
The same holds true in our Christian lives. We are to know the Bible, to study it, and to pass it on to others, especially to the next generation. It's an important function of the call from Jesus "to make disciples of all nations".
We should turn more often to the Bible to answer lifes questions and when we do, be ready to share it with others who ask the same questions that we once did.
Read the passage below. Can you apply some of it to your life?
Ex 18:23 If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace."
Couldn't we all use a little more peace, especially when "under pressure"?
In Christ,
Mike
Ex 18:13-19:1
Jethro's Wise Advice
13 The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people's disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.
14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?"
15 Moses replied, "Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16 When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God's decrees and give them his instructions."
17 "This is not good!" Moses' father-in-law exclaimed. 18 "You're going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. 19 Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people's representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. 20 Teach them God's decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. 21 But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22 They should always be available to solve the people's common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace."
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and followed his suggestions. 25 He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 26 These men were always available to solve the people's common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves.
27 Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.
No comments:
Post a Comment