"Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise" - Proverbs 19:20 (NIV).
When people talk of work- life balance, you could think the idea all started yesterday. But let me take you back. A long time ago "Jethro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses, heard of everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel" (Exodus 8:1). So, he decided to pay him a visit. Although he had alerted him it was not easy for Jethro to find time with his son- in- law because he was scarce of time.
Moses was a micro manager with a long queue of cases brought to him from morning till evening to adjucate. Concerned, Jethro pointed out, "What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone" (vv 17-18).
Jethro then asked Moses to listen to a good advice. He suggested he finds officials "to serve as judges for the people at all times, but have 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. f you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied" (vv 22-23).
Moses accepted the unsolicited advice, and from there on he became a delegator. This freed up time for him to attend to important visitors like Jethro, if they called by. We can also say he added a few more years on to his life with better work-related family balance. In retrospect we can all ask why had Moses not sought out his father-in- law before! But never mind; once he was given some advice he did not begrudge.
It has been pointed out " Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:3), and here we see why. There are still "Jethros" all around us and yet some of us because of ego ignore them and continue to plunge into costly mistakes. But these Jethros because of their experience can lighten our load, if only we could be humble to seek their advice and listen.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for the "Jethros" in my life and may I be humble to seek and listen to their advice, to avoid unnecessary mistakes, this I pray in Jesus's name.
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03/05/2024 - 04/05/2024 All day“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)
Every now and then one could be gripped with fear because of certain events sweeping before one’s life journey. It could be the finances that are stretched and incomes are no longer certain. Perhaps it is one’s job under threat. Perhaps it is a dreaded health report card. There could be fear about outcome of a matter under judgment and what it might mean to one’s future.
Fear has been elsewhere described as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” Every life will experience fear at one point. Whenever we are faced with fear it is natural to look for something to grasp on. Sometimes we run for shelter wherever we can find. Perhaps we might seek out a friend for quiet confidence.
But there are those situations when there is no shelter in sight. There are also those cases where those we thought would understand our situation once we share our pain return only hurting and critical feedback. In such moments we might then turn and look within ourselves only to find the energy has all been sapped by this gnawing fear. We feel down and the urge to rise and move on all gone!
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10) the word of God through prophet Isaiah assures us. But why? It is because the Lord has been there. He himself was faced with fear before his crucifixion but He looked to God.
Charles Spurgeon once wrote when faced with fear always remember, “Nothing is too hard for Him. He can find a way where there is no way. He can give us the idea that will make all the difference.” Psalm 91:2, says, “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” So, when faced with fear, look to God to strengthen you. By looking to Him, the Lord will encourage and lift up your spirit, and make a way out of nowhere!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I surrender to you any fear that is in me for I know by looking up to you, you will always make a way out of nowhere, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
