Sometimes we get so caught up in life, we try to do everything our self. Now I know those of you reading this devotion would never have any problems like this one. The truth is that sometimes we get so caught up in the end result that we forget about the process in the middle, which usually involves people. Chad and I coach Isabella in softball, and even in 6 and under it is pretty intense. The first day we met our team, I thought I would cry. I played softball as many years as I could, high school, college, and attempted to play last year as an older person. Anyway, I have been around it all my life, but when I looked at our team as a whole I thought to myself, “we will never make it”. So the grueling process began of trying to learn where to stand at the plate, are they right or left handed hitters, which hand does the glove go on, which way do we run around the bases, what are the name of the bases. Can I just say, I forgot how much there was to learn when you have never played. The problems were far to big for just me to handle, or Chad and I together for that matter, so we called in assistant coaches that were very capable. If we had continued to try to do everything our selves, no one would have known what they were doing. But because we allowed people to help us we got to see the process work. We saw little girls beam with joy when they got their first hit, caught their first ball, hit their first homerun, etc. You see although we wanted the end result of winning; the joy of coaching was all in the process of getting to the end result. If doing the task alone had overwhelmed us, we would have short changed the girls on our team. We would have missed the opportunity to teach each girl their effort was awesome, working hard yields results, and good sportsmanship was a necessity of life.
What does this have to do with anything? Sometimes in our lives, we are so focused on the end result we miss out on opportunities to minster to people around us, we do not allow others the opportunity to minister, or we miss developing relationships. We get in the mindset that we are better off without anybody in our own personal space. We build walls, and keep people at least arms length away so we are not disappointed or hurt. We may be protecting our selves, but that is never the way God intended us to serve Him. There is a story in the Bible about a man who took on too much work, and was being beat down by everyday problems of life --his name was Moses.
Exodus 18:13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.
Moses was obviously a goldy man, but God never intended for him to do all he was doing alone. He was being so beat down by everyday chores; there was no room for anything else. Just because we see a need does not mean it is our responsibility to fill it. Henry T Balackaby says, “When you become aware of a need, do not automatically assume God wants you to meet it. The only reason to perform a ministry is that God clearly tells you it is His will. If you are feeling overwhelmed by all that you are doing, you are probably doing more than God has asked. Pray carefully about the responsibilities you take so that you don’t rob yourself and others of God’s best.” For those of us with leadership personalities, it is always easier to do the task ourselves. However, by doing this we may often rob others of an opportunity to serve. Moses found men that he thought was honorable, capable, God fearing and taught them the decrease, then trusted them to do their job. Here is the bottom line. At some point Moses allowed people into his life to help him. Will we be disappointed? Probably. Will we be hurt? Maybe. However, ministering is about relationships and people. If we are good leaders we will mentor those around us to become great ones.
Where do you find yourself today? Do you relish in sharing responsibility, or do you like to keep all your space to yourself?
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Galations 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ……………….9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
God never intended us to walk alone.
What does this have to do with anything? Sometimes in our lives, we are so focused on the end result we miss out on opportunities to minster to people around us, we do not allow others the opportunity to minister, or we miss developing relationships. We get in the mindset that we are better off without anybody in our own personal space. We build walls, and keep people at least arms length away so we are not disappointed or hurt. We may be protecting our selves, but that is never the way God intended us to serve Him. There is a story in the Bible about a man who took on too much work, and was being beat down by everyday problems of life --his name was Moses.
Exodus 18:13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.”17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.
Moses was obviously a goldy man, but God never intended for him to do all he was doing alone. He was being so beat down by everyday chores; there was no room for anything else. Just because we see a need does not mean it is our responsibility to fill it. Henry T Balackaby says, “When you become aware of a need, do not automatically assume God wants you to meet it. The only reason to perform a ministry is that God clearly tells you it is His will. If you are feeling overwhelmed by all that you are doing, you are probably doing more than God has asked. Pray carefully about the responsibilities you take so that you don’t rob yourself and others of God’s best.” For those of us with leadership personalities, it is always easier to do the task ourselves. However, by doing this we may often rob others of an opportunity to serve. Moses found men that he thought was honorable, capable, God fearing and taught them the decrease, then trusted them to do their job. Here is the bottom line. At some point Moses allowed people into his life to help him. Will we be disappointed? Probably. Will we be hurt? Maybe. However, ministering is about relationships and people. If we are good leaders we will mentor those around us to become great ones.
Where do you find yourself today? Do you relish in sharing responsibility, or do you like to keep all your space to yourself?
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Galations 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ……………….9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
God never intended us to walk alone.
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