THIS JOB IS TOO HEAVY…TO HANDLE…BY YOURSELF.“ ’ EXODUS 18:18 TLB Exemplary leadership (4)
The Israelites looked to Moses for everything, and he was wearing himself out trying to meet their expectations. When his ‘father-in-law saw how much time this was taking, he said, “Why are you trying to do all this alone…? You’re going to wear yourself out…this job is too heavy…to handle…by yourself…Find some capable, godly, honest men…and appoint them…That way…you will share the burden…be able to endure the pressures, and there will be peace and harmony” Moses listened…and followed this suggestion’ (Exodus 18:14-24 TLB). Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Some of us are proud of our superhuman ability to do it all. But Moses’ father-in-law told him that what he was doing wasn’t good for him, or those under his leadership. How so? When God calls and equips someone to do a job that you keep doing for them, they end up frustrated and undeveloped. God created us to be interdependent, not independent. Delegating authority to the right people strengthened Moses for the task of leading Israel the way God intended. You can’t be all things to all people. Unless you learn to delegate, you’ll disintegrate. Remember, you yourself have legitimate needs, and it’s wrong to be too proud to ask for help! As a leader it’s easy to overestimate your own importance. Paul says: ‘…not to think you are better than you really are. Use good sense…’ (Romans 12:3 CEV). Theodore Roosevelt put it like this: ‘The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick people to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.’ And that’s still good advice!