Love That Never Fails

26. Making the Load Lighter

If you think back over your life, you can probably remember times that were really hard but also had a positive element. While many things were difficult in 2020-2023, it will probably surprise you to see how many things changed for the better. There were things that caused various practices to change in business and resulted in greater productivity. Many working from home avoided hours of commuting. They had more time to work and also were more present for their families and certainly less stressed. In some cases, it was decided to continue such arrangements or workers only returned to the office once or twice a week!

In many workplaces, changes were made in order to lighten the load, especially for those in leadership. Continual strain is not good for anyone! Being able to delegate is a great thing and ends up being better for everyone. It's just a matter of being prepared to let go of some responsibilities. Moses needed to do this too and here, we see him taking advice from his father in law:

"Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and wife, came to him in the wilderness, where he was camped near the mountain of God. Jethro had sent word to him, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons." So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the Lord had saved them. Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. He said, "Praise be to the Lord, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly." Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.

The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?" Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and instructions." Moses' father-in-law replied, "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. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them 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. 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 ‭18:5-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What a great example of lightening the load! We all can look for ways to lighten the load at this time, even in our own homes and churches. God doesn't want us to be so busy that we become overwhelmed, burnt out and ineffective as Christians. Be sure to spend time asking God to show you who could help to lighten your load today. Remember too that He wants you to come to Him with all of the things that are weighing you down. Spending time in prayer is the best way to lighten Your load as you lay your burdens at the foot of the cross.

Let's pray:

Dear Lord,

It's so good to be able to speak to You each day and know that You will listen and show me Your wisdom as I read Your Word. Thank You for this illustration from Moses' life which reminds me to look for ways to lighten my load. You never intended for us to do everything ourselves.

Lord may I work wisely at home, work and in my church. I seek Your wisdom and bring before You my current situation ............... Please also use me to lighten the load of others so we may work together more effectively for You.

Amen.