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, ofhundreds, of fifties, and of tens. ~ Exodus 18:21 (ESV)
READING: Exodus 18
Recently one leader told me that he practiced juggling in school as part of his physical education class and now he knows why since he is juggling so many items in his ministry nowadays.
Sometimes we like the busyness because it makes us feel important, but it is our family who complains about this the most. If you read between the lines in Exodus 18, it sounds like Moses’ wife, Zipporah, complained to her daddy, Jethro, that Moses was too busy caring for the children of Israel to care for his own two sons. Great things were happening (see v. 9) but it was coming at the expense of a happy family and proper balance in Moses’ life.
Sound familiar? Don’t sacrifice your family on the altar of church planting success. Besides, working yourself into ill health or death doesn’t please Jesus.
Church planting leader, listen to Jethro’s wise advice. Quit thinking you are the answer to everyone’s problems! Stop thinking there is no way out. Instead, ask God for those you can place over groups and ministries. Raise up mentors and train leaders. Then set them free to minister. Remember, your job is “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12).
Stop doing ministry and start equipping others for ministry. Your wife, children (and father-in-law) will thank you. More importantly, you will be doing what you were called by the Lord to do.
Lord, Help me to equip others and share ministry so everyone will be blessed, including my precious family. Amen.
Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI) “Equips Leaders to Plant 5 Million Churches Worldwide.” Learn more
