Good Advice

Ex 18:20 "And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do." (NKJV)

I love good advice…sometimes. I say sometimes because there are times when I think that I know what to do and how to do it and no one can sway me. There is one word for that: stubborn. Frankly, a stubborn person, one who shuns the advice of others, one who does not let anyone else in to give their opinion or help is called one thing: a fool. "Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words." Prov 23:9 There are times when I am a fool and there are times when I am wise. How I wish I were wise all the time because "…in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Prov 11 and Prov 24.

Moses got this. For a while he thought he could do it all himself. He was trying to solve all of the people's problems all alone. I am not sure if he did this because he didn't trust anyone else (you know, if you want to see the job get done right, do it yourself) or if he just didn't think of other alternatives. Anyway, he was getting burned out. Enter Jethro, his father in law. Now for a guy to take advice from his father in law is an amazing thing. That, many times, is the last guy you want to hear from. But Jethro was an observant man and he cared about his son in law. He saw that Moses was a one man show and that he would never last. So he gave him some solid advice. Spread out the responsibility. Spread out the decision making. Give the smaller disputes to other guys and only handle the big deal cases. As you look at this, this was the beginning of the current court system that we have, with Municipal, Common Pleas, Appellate Courts and the Supreme Court. Moses was the Supreme Court with minor courts below him. What did Moses do? He took the advice. He implemented the plan. He saved his brain.

Jethro also gave him this advice: Teach the people. Show them how to live (walk) and what they need to do (work). Don't just be a judge, be a teacher.

I wonder if I sometimes get stuck in the judge role without being a teacher? Without showing. Without setting an example. There is nothing wrong with decision making…but it is easier to make decisions when disputes are cut down because of proper teaching. It is incumbent that those of us in leadership teach. It is imperative that we lay out for others what God's word says so that they know what to expect. When this happens, no one can say: "But I didn't know.". When we take the time to patiently and passionately teach the word of God people's lives will change. Look at what Paul encouraged Timothy to do: "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2Tim 4:2.

As I think about a meeting that we have coming up, be sure to teach. Don't just send people on a guilt trip, teach them what God's word says and watch them respond…and then spread the load.

Great advice, Jethro. Thanks.