"Select capable men from all the people -- men who fear God ... and appoint them as officials." Exodus 18:21

Moses had to learn what to do. He had to learn what not to do. It was harder to learn what to have others do. Learning to delegate is a hard lesson. Bookstores are filled with books offering help. A recent fad book portrayed such insights to be learned in one minute.

In one minute you can read Exodus 18:17-23. It is the word of Jethro to his son-in-law, Moses. Jethro outlined the art of delegation. He said that Moses should get others to help so the objectives would be met. When studying administration at the University of Nebraska, I was surprised to see this Bible story in secular textbooks. Dwight L. Moody, an evangelist of a bygone day said: "It is better to train ten people to work than to do the work of ten people."

Jesus trained the Twelve. He also trained the 70, then 120 more. He knew that He was returning to heaven. Others would carry on the mission of proclaiming salvation. He enlisted and equipped people for ministry, then sent them out. The principle still applies. Jesus still gives pastors, teachers, and other workers "to prepare God's people for works of service" (Ephesians 4:12).

PRAYER: Help us, Lord, to do Your work as best we can and to enlist others to help. Amen.

(Devotions from "The Abundant Life" copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)

Today's Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 35    Habakkuk 1-3    Acts 25

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