Servant Leadership

Leader, here’s God’s way 

"If you do this...you will be able to stand the strain." Exodus 18:23 NIV 

Why do we insist on doing everything ourselves? Three reasons: 1) We’re afraid others won’t do the job as well as we do. But how else are they going to learn? 2) We’re afraid they will outshine us. The Bible says, "In honor preferring one another" (Romans 12:10 KJV). 3) We think God expects us personally to do it all. Moses’ father-in-law told him, "Listen now to me and I will give you some advice... You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him... But select capable men from all the people... and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. Let them serve as judges for the people at all times, but let 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. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied" (Exodus 18:19-23). 

So evaluate what only you can do, and delegate what others can do. If the job’s too big for you, take it as a sign that God is telling you, "Don’t try it alone!" That doesn’t mean dump the work on just anybody. If you pair the wrong person with a job that makes no sense to them, disaster will ensue. You must: 1) find the right person; 2) give them the right job; and 3) trust them to do the right thing. Do those three things and you’ll live long enough to enjoy the fruits of your success. 

Prayer point: 

Lord, please help me to know when it’s right to delegate. Help me recognize and appreciate the gifts You have given to others and empower them to use those gifts without feeling threatened. Give me wisdom to train, mentor, and release people as You did Your disciples, and to trust You with the outcome.  

Acknowledgements: Merritt, James, Still Standing: 8 Winning Strategies for Facing Tough Times (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2012), 28, 29