Shortly after writing the piece I published last week titled "Assisting or..."* , I was led to start writing this one based on an interesting transition from Exodus 17:8-13 to Exodus 18: 13-24. As I listened to Exodus 18, the 3/4 words - since 1 of them is a contraction - that kept flowing through in my heart and head - and now my hands was "It's not automatic." For me it was first of all a note of caution to me then to Pastors/Mrs Pastors and Ministers/Workers.
Let's read it first:
13 The next day Moses took his place to judge the people. People were standing before him all day long, from morning to night. 14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What’s going on here? Why are you doing all this, and all by yourself, letting everybody line up before you from morning to night?” 15 Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me with questions about God. 16When something comes up, they come to me. I judge between a man and his neighbor and teach them God’s laws and instructions.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said, “This is no way to go about it. You’ll burn out, and the people right along with you. 18 This is way too much for you—you can’t do this alone. 19 Now listen to me. Let me tell you how to do this so that God will be in this with you. Be there for the people before God, but let the matters of concern be presented to God. 20 Your job is to teach them the rules and instructions, to show them how to live, what to do. 21 And then you need to keep a sharp eye out for competent men—men who fear God, men of integrity, men who are incorruptible—and appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. 22 They’ll be responsible for the everyday work of judging among the people. They’ll bring the hard cases to you, but in the routine cases they’ll be the judges. They will share your load and that will make it easier for you. 23 If you handle the work this way, you’ll have the strength to carry out whatever God commands you, and the people in their settings will flourish also.” 24 Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 Moses picked competent men from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people who were organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. 26 They took over the everyday work of judging among the people. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but in the routine cases they were the judges. 27 Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law who went home to his own country. (MSG)
If you recall last week's piece,* we saw 2 men - Aaron and Hur - assisting Moses in the assignment God gave him. Then after that "Special Event" life returned to "Ministry as Usual." Moses returned to doing the Ministry work all by himself. The Bible doesn't tell us if anyone, such as Aaron or Hur, offered to help him or if they all felt that he should do the work himself since he was the one "called by God." God in His mercy sent advice Moses...possibly because Moses was "clueless" on was who, if anyone, was willing to assist him in ministry because of their love for God rather than their desire for recognition.
It was interesting that it wasn't automatic that the people who held up his hands were willing and/or available to help him in day-to-day ministry. A learnt a few (2 & 3) lessons from this:
Ministers/Workers:
1. Don't assume that because your Pastor and/or his wife don't reach out/ask for assistance that they don't need your help.
2. Don't assume that because your Pastor and/or his wife reached out/asked you for assistance that you're the only person who can help them.
Pastors/Mrs Pastors:
1. Don't assume that the people who stand beside you at Special Events are also willing and/or available to assist you in the day-to-day (behind the scenes) work.
2. If you insist on doing all the work by yourself, get ready to burn out...then you won't be of much use to God, yourself or the church.
3. Don't assume that there is no-one willing and/or available to help you - if you ask prayerfully, God will lead you to those who should and would assist you in Ministry work.
While it is not automatic, I implore each of us to reach out for help or reach out to help...
Reference:
* http://mrs-pastor-and-pastor-mrs.blogspot.com/2016/05/assisting-or.html
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