DCLM Daily Manna 9 January 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Delegate Please
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TOPIC: Delegate Please (DCLM Daily Manna 9 January 2022)
TEXT: Exodus 18:13-27 (KJV)
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.
14 And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?
15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
17 And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.
24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.
25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.
KEY VERSE: “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens” (Exodus 18:21).
MESSAGE:
In a survey that was conducted just before the Covid-19 pandemic, seventy-two percent of pastors reported working between fifty-five to seventy-two hours per week. Eighty percent believed pastoral ministry had negatively affected their families. Some pastors say that the demands of the church prevent them from spending time with their family; and others die early because of the demands of the ministry.
Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law gave a counsel to Moses subject to divine approval, about how to reduce stress by empowering other qualified subordinates to share the burden of leadership with him. He counselled him to choose people with the needed capacity, competence and character to serve as judges of the tribes, households and family units of Israel. Difficult matters, which they were unable to resolve, would be referred to Moses.
Counselling demands consume a large chunk of pastors’ time. They sit down to counsel people from morning until night, after Sunday services. They take their turns narrating their challenges and problems to the pastor, who in turn offers counsel and prayers. This goes on every Sunday, and sometimes on other days of the week.
Church leaders should adopt Jethro’s counsel and stop burning out themselves. Your consecration does not decline because you get others to assist you. It rather keeps you alive for a longer time to offer help to more people and gives you time for your family, which is your primary responsibility.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Delegate responsibility to elongate productivity.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Matthew 20-21
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
