Exodus 18:13-27
The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?” Moses replied, “Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.”
“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. Teach them God’s decrees and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”
It is not weakness to recruit others to help a leader carry the load. The bigger the vision, the grander the objective, and the more help that the leader will need. If a leader determines that they intend to carry the full load on their own, by definition the load will be lighter. However, if a leader can lead leaders, much can be accomplished. Like in proverbs, we can learn from nature.
Consider the ox.
A well-trained team of oxen can pull a weight equal to or greater than their body weight. For short bursts of six to eight feet, they are capable of pulling up to 2 times their body weight. This means that a pair of oxen can pull as much as 12,000 to 13,000 pounds.
As a Spiritual leader, ask yourself, “How much weight do I want to pull?”
When a leader is secure in who they are, it is easy to select those that have talents and abilities that surpass that of the official leader. While it is important that the leader have a baseline understanding of all areas of their organization and family, it is more important that you find people that the leader can trust to be specialists. There is so much to do that it is impossible for the leader to see everything and everyone in the organization. The leader is still responsible even for what they do not see. That is why quality and effective leaders under you are so important. A lame ox will lessen the load that even that single ox could pull.
Spiritual Leader, the organization, section, or family is your responsibility. Even if your subordinate is guilty of some infraction. It becomes your responsibility to address the issue. It was also your choice to hire this person or the person that hired them.
All of that leads us to the main point of this section. Know the people that you are leading. What makes them come alive and energized? What motivates them to pull with all of their might? Do what you can to get to know their families, friends and hobbies. When you know these things, when you are presenting ideas and thoughts, you can find illustrations that are more likely to connect with them.
Knowing the people that work for you also gives you insights to solve problems. Many problems are complicated, and Google does not always provide the best answers. Some things just need experience and the people that work for you can give you that insight.
