Embrace the Power of Teamwork in Leadership: A Divine Lesson from Moses
Num 1:5a And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you.....
Num 1:16 These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
A leader, by definition, has followers! But, we must take it a step further; leaders must have leading followers! Too many times we as leaders in the ministry take too much upon ourselves.
A point should be made here: As great a leader as Moses was, he did not go it alone, nor could he! Moses did not single-handedly lead God’s people out of Egyptian slavery. He had help! Of course, we know that his most important helper was God, but I wish to point out that he had appointed leaders who helped in the ministry.
Ex 18:13-26 tells us of a time even in Moses’ ministry that he took too much upon himself! I encourage you to read it, but here’s the gist; Moses sat all day as people literally stood in line for hours to speak with him about different matters. His father-in-law said to him, “What is this thing that thou doest to the people?...The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.” Moses thought he was being super-spiritual, but what he didn’t realize is that he was wearing himself away, along with the people he thought he was helping!
When we as leaders try to do it all ourselves, we end up being inadequate, insufficient, and more harmful than helpful to those around us! If you are a leader in the ministry, here’s some advice: If you can’t do it, don’t do it! If we take the time to develop leaders, loving, encouraging and enabling them to grow in their walk with God, we shall develop people who involve not only their hands, their energy, their time and their resources, but who’ll involve their hearts! If their heart is not with you, their hands soon won’t be!
“God, grant us the patience and strength to focus on the process instead of the end-results!”
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
Num 1:16 These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
A leader, by definition, has followers! But, we must take it a step further; leaders must have leading followers! Too many times we as leaders in the ministry take too much upon ourselves.
A point should be made here: As great a leader as Moses was, he did not go it alone, nor could he! Moses did not single-handedly lead God’s people out of Egyptian slavery. He had help! Of course, we know that his most important helper was God, but I wish to point out that he had appointed leaders who helped in the ministry.
Ex 18:13-26 tells us of a time even in Moses’ ministry that he took too much upon himself! I encourage you to read it, but here’s the gist; Moses sat all day as people literally stood in line for hours to speak with him about different matters. His father-in-law said to him, “What is this thing that thou doest to the people?...The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.” Moses thought he was being super-spiritual, but what he didn’t realize is that he was wearing himself away, along with the people he thought he was helping!
When we as leaders try to do it all ourselves, we end up being inadequate, insufficient, and more harmful than helpful to those around us! If you are a leader in the ministry, here’s some advice: If you can’t do it, don’t do it! If we take the time to develop leaders, loving, encouraging and enabling them to grow in their walk with God, we shall develop people who involve not only their hands, their energy, their time and their resources, but who’ll involve their hearts! If their heart is not with you, their hands soon won’t be!
“God, grant us the patience and strength to focus on the process instead of the end-results!”
~ Pastor Gary Caudill