When You're Overloaded - God's Solutions

When You’re Overloaded – God’s Solutions Exodus 18 June 7, 2020 THE BIG IDEA: Anyone can reach a point in life where you are overwhelmed with your responsibilities. When that happened to Moses, the LORD gave him solutions that allowed all the same work to get done, but in a way that the burden was shared by other Godly people. It is a Biblical pattern that extends into the New Testament Church and continues to be the way of wise leaders. In 18:1-12, here is what happened: 1. Moses is reunited with his wife and two sons. 2. Moses’ father-in-law delivers them home to Moses and Moses eagerly shares about what God has been doing for Israel. 3. Jethro comes to faith in the supremacy of YHWH (the LORD). So, God used Moses to witness to his father-in-law. 18 13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” LESSONS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE n n n n n n Not even the greatest leaders have all the answers. Sometimes we are doing great things, but in a way that could be vastly improved for all who are involved. Anyone is capable of offering wisdom and encouragement to another person. “Fresh eyes” are a gift to us. When we refuse to involve others we are robbing both them and ourselves. Humility and courage are requirements for giving and receiving helpful guidance. There is a Moses in your life that you can come alongside. And, there are “Jethro’s” who want to help you. HOW TO GIVE AND RECEIVE CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE [Jon Bloom of “Desiring God Ministries”] n For the One Seeking to Help and Offer Advice o Ask clarifying questions to gain a more accurate understanding. Don’t assume. o Be graciously frank. Don’t hint or overqualify. Just say what you see with the humility that you might not be seeing perfectly. o Undergird, don’t undermine. Construct, don’t destruct. Be a strength by helping to find a solution that pursues the good of everyone involved. n For the One Willing to Receive and Learn from Another o No prideful deflections. If the correction is needed, humbly receive it. o Listen for God’s direction. God likes to lead us in ways that cultivate our humility. o Remember, correction is a gift, and not only for you. Your correction may also be someone else’s provision. “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” Proverbs 12:1