LifeLink Devotions for Tuesday, October 15, 2024

There is something very addictive about authority and power, especially to a person with insecurities. Moses was a man with insecurities. He had run away from his people once because his actions were misunderstood and rejected, and he had fought God’s call to return to his people as their deliverer because of the fear of additional rejection. When God empowered him to accomplish the deliverance of the nation from Egypt, and when God empowered him to meet all the needs of the people during the exodus, Moses probably started to feel pretty good about himself. This authority and power that he had was satisfying, and it certainly felt a lot better than rejection. The people actually needed him, and he may have been enjoying the attention and sense of security it brought.

But just like any addiction, there was a serious price to pay. Moses’ price was burnout. All attempts to cover our insecurities and fears with human resources and pursuits end in destruction. Moses needed the wise input of a veteran leader to help him see the error of his thinking. This wise man was his father-in-law, who gave him some incredible leadership advice – delegate!

Exodus 18:13-14  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?”

If you keep reading that passage you will find that the advice was broken down into four elements. They give us some insights into how we can become better leaders of the people God has brought into our circle of relationships. Let’s look at the first one today.

1. Make sure everyone knows that God is the final authority, and you are just serving Him. Moses was told that “You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.”  It is very dangerous to take personal credit for decisions and actions when God alone is responsible. Leading other people and helping them with their problems is not about gaining personal value or status with that person. It’s about honoring the only One who has all the answers. We have been called to intercede with God on behalf of people so they hear Him, not us. Don’t get in the way.

Tomorrow we will look at the other principles. But for today, spend some time evaluating your relationships with others and asK yourself this question – “Do I consistently direct their needs to the Lord or do I look for the honor that comes from doing it myself?”

Pastor John