WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO DO ALL THIS ALONE?

I have a confession to make. When Randy left the ministry of classroom teaching to become pastor of our church, I remained in teaching for awhile so we could “stabilize our economy”. Suddenly I was now a “pastor’s wife”, coach, leader, teacher, etc. I was already overseeing the ministry to our youth and children as well as the worship service. Now that Randy was pastor, we planned the worship service, too.

One Sunday, exhausted, God made me realize what I had done that Sunday morning. I had planned the lessons for Sunday School, taught the lessons, then moved the kids out to the sanctuary for worship. After I led worship from the piano, I ushered the kids/youth to the classrooms and taught children’s church! THEN, I left them in the hands of my older daughter (the only helper at the time) to return back to the sanctuary to lead the final worship song after the sermon! I KNOW! So lacking in wisdom at the time, as I thought I was “helping” the people by serving them. This was a “church start over”, so all our people were new, but still, that is no excuse!

Do you see how many times I said “I”. I was reprimanded by God’s Spirit that Sunday afternoon with “why are you doing this alone?”, just as Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, said the same thing to him while watching him work. I changed my life immediately and began to train others to do what I did better than the way I did it. I took JOY from doing just that! Training others became my passion and mantra then and still is to this day! I was also robbing many people of the blessings they deserved in serving our LORD with their gifts and talents! No more!

Moses gets the same lesson from his wise father-in-law, Jethro:

“When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, ‘Why are you trying to do all this alone? The people have been standing here all day to get your help.” Exodus 18, NLT

“Moses replied, ‘Well, the people come to me to seek God’s guidance.'” “I am the one…”

If you are the only one doing the work, then something is wrong! You are not the only one who can do the work! And guess what, we need to realize that God doesn’t really NEED us to get His work accomplished…but he invites us to HIS work so that we will go and teach others. Mm.

“This is not good!” his father-in-law exclaimed. ‘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. Now 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 him their questions to be decided. You should tell them God’s decision, teach them God’s laws and instructions, and show them how to conduct their lives. BUT find some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as judges over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.'” Exodus 18, NLT

BAM, problem solved! Go and teach others! Replicate yourself! Who are you mentoring, teaching to take your place? And who is mentoring You to take their place someday? Divide and conquer the tasks that God gives us. It’s His plan to share the work, for…”the yoke” He gives us is light and not meant to overburden us.

Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. Can we do the same? Are we afraid that if we train someone to do our job, that we are out of a job? How ludicrous is that thinking?…God will always have something for us to do, but I think the best job of all is teaching and training leaders to train leaders to train leaders!

Dear Heavenly Father, We know it is not good to constantly try to carry the whole load of Your work. It is not good for us. Sometimes we even become bitter and tired of the work instead of just being tired in the work. It is our fault. Sometimes we even think we are helping others more if we just “take care of it” ourselves. And that is not what You want. Help us to divide Your work into as many pieces as possible to use all the gifts You have given Your people in the place where we serve. In Jesus Name, Amen!