Refugee: Leading Without Burnout

June 25, 2017
Pastor Alan Smith

Sermon Notes

If you’ve been with us for a while, you know that we are working through a study of Moses, the second greatest leader. This morning we’re going to take our text from Exodus 18.

Last Sunday was Father’s day. In light of our text, I thought today could be honorary Father-In-Law day. I would like to say that I have a great father-in-law. I’ve been blessed. I’m not saying that because he’s in the room or because he’s going to buy my lunch today but I do have a great father-in-law. He’s has been a good example to both my son and I as to how to take care of your family. He’s offered me a little bit of advice. I thought I would pass that advice along to you this morning. When I decided to marry Marinda it was around Christmas time in 2001. I went to his house. I had this image in my mind of a shotgun because I know he has them. However, it was a very good experience. I asked him if I could marry his daughter. He said, “Fine. I have some advice for you. If you will just learn to say ‘Yes, dear.’ everything will go smoothly.” I say, “Yes, dear” quite frequently in our home. It makes things a lot easier. So, my father-in-law had some good advice.

My father-in-law is an avid golfer. He has a bad day golfing when he has a 76. I’m having an amazing day if I hit 90. I’m not a great golfer but I wanted to play golf with my father-in-law. He takes me out to play and I start out strong and fall off after hole number two. He’ll tell me, “Not a bad swing you have there, son.” I’m happy he’s called me son. For the rest of the holes, I spent most of my time in the wood line. I figure if you’re going to play you might as well get your money’s worth.  By the time we reached holes six through nine he wasn’t calling me “son” anymore now it was “hacker”. By the end of the round he gave me some really good advice. He said, “Get your shag bag. Fill it with balls. Get your putter and wedge and practice.” We just returned from vacation and I can kill it on a mini golf course. That was some good advice from my father-in-law.

Today, we’re going to look at a story where Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, give him some good advice. Before we get to that, I want to preface the sermon today by reiterating a couple of things we’ve heard over the last several weeks that we’ve been talking about Moses. One of them is that we are all leaders. A leader is someone who has the ability to influence. Some influence a few while others influence a lot. Everyone in this room from the youngest to the oldest are leaders. As a matter of fact, we are called to be leaders. The Great Commission calls us as believers to make disciples. The only way that I know to influence people to follow Christ is if you are following Christ. We are called to be leaders. This is who we are!

Another thing to remember as we study Moses is that we are all where God has us to be. You are right where God has equipped you, designed you, made you to be. Later in life you may be in a different place and have a bigger influence or a smaller influence then now. You are where you are because God has put you there to lead those he has put you to influence. This is our calling. We’ve learned that Moses has been called to lead the people out of Egypt. For four hundred years they were enslaved. God said, “Moses, I’m going to use you. I’ve heard their cry. It’s time for them to leave. I’m not going to only use them to get them out but I’m going to use you to be my mouth piece to Pharaoh and the people. I’m going to use you to take their demands and issues to me. More importantly, Moses, you’re going to take my statutes and commandments and make the people learn them. You’re going to teach them and they will teach their children and their children’s children.” This is essentially Moses’s call.

Let me put Chapter 18 into context as we jump into this leadership principle today. For roughly four and a half months Moses has been leading the nation of Israel out of Egypt. They’ve crossed the Red Sea on dry ground. God has destroyed Pharaoh’s army. They didn’t have food so God gave them manna. They got tired of manna so God gave them quail. They needed water so God gave them that too. There were all kinds of miraculous things that have been happening. When they were encamped the Amalekites came and tried to destroy them because they’d heard all the things that God had done. God delivered them from the Amalekites. Rumors had been spreading around the desert area about these Hebrews that were coming out of Egypt and all the amazing things that had been happening. Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, had heard and decided to take Moses’s family back to him. In chapter four of Exodus Moses and his family were headed to Egypt and at some point Moses sent his family back to Jethro. Now it’s time to bring the family back. In chapter 18 we have Jethro coming with Zipporah and the two boys bringing them back to dad. We find in chapter 18 that they praise and worship God together. Then we get to our story.

1. Stop trying to do it by yourself

Exodus 18:13-16
13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?”15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.”

If you remember the Hebrews have been incredibly cordial individuals. Can you imagine having to sit out in the sun in the dessert from morning to evening to settle people’s disputes? Probably not the best experience for anyone involved. Moses is doing a good thing. He’s helping the people know what they should and shouldn’t do. Moses is busy from morning until evening. God did not call Moses to get into the weeds. God called Moses to lead the people but Moses is being bogged down with the daily toil of judging the people. Moses had been called by God for a very specific ministry to serve as the voice of God to the people. God wanted Moses to represent the people to him and to teach them the statutes and regulations. This is a ministry that only Moses can do. Aaron can’t do it. Miriam can’t do it.  The judges and elders of the Hebrews can’t do it. This is a job, calling, ministry that only Moses can do because this is what God has called him to do. Yet every day he finds himself toiling over a ministry that is good but that someone else can do. He was trying to make known the statutes and law of God but he was so busy judging and in the weeds with everybody that he was not actually able to teach or train people effectively. He was not effective at doing the most important thing because he was too busy doing the good thing.

The role of judging the people, listening to their concerns, and making decisions were things someone else could do. Other people could do that job, task, or ministry. Moses didn’t have to do that.  The tyranny of the urgent and lack of developing leaders caused Moses to be an ineffective leader at doing what God had called Moses to do. “Teach the people. Train them in the things that I have told you. Moses, you and I have had face-to-face time. Now take this information and teach the people,” God said. There wasn’t a lot of teaching going on when Moses was trying to figure out who gets the goat. Moses was not doing the most important thing that God had called him to do.

Moses can’t do it all! You can’t do it all! The Christian life is to be lived in community. When we try to shoulder more responsibility then what God has called us to do we get bogged down. You don’t have to shoulder the burden alone. Stop being the martyr. Stop saying, “If I don’t do this, no one will do it. If I don’t do it, it won’t get done right.” As if it all depends on you. You were called and placed in a position of leadership, influence, and purpose. When we get bogged down with all the other things then what God has called us to becomes less effective. Our task is to make disciples as the Great Commission says, “As you are going about your day and life make disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father. Teach them all the things I have taught you.” This is our calling and purpose. As we lead people, discipling them should be our priority. God has put us in a circle of influence to lead people by making disciples and sharing the Gospel.  The Good News is that you are a sinner and without Jesus Christ we would all die and go to Hell. Christ because he loved us came, lived on this earth, died for our sins, and was buried and rose again. Since he rose again, you and I have the ability to have life and fellowship with him. The Good News is that life continues on in eternity and we have Christ with us. Don’t get caught up in the weeds of life that you fail to do what God has called you to do. The reality is that you can’t do it all.

2. The task is too heavy

When you think about what God has called us to do it is too heavy a burden for one person to try to tackle. When you think about what God has called you to do and all the other things that seem to go into play around you it is too heavy.

Exodus 18:17-18
17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.

Was judging the people a good thing? Yes, it was. What was happening was a good thing but who was doing it was a bad thing. No matter how good you think you are, how talented, how educated, or how scholarly you can’t do it all. Doing what is good at the expense of what is best is not good for ministry. It’s not good for your ministry because you will wear out and the people you’re trying to minister to will wear out. Both of you will burn out. I think there is an allure and attractiveness that comes with having authority, position, power, or influence that people seek after because it is perceived as good. We think we can do it. “There’s a men’s ministry need. There’s a women’s ministry need. There’s a youth ministry need. I can do it!” What we see in ministry is a need that is good, noble, and worthwhile that needs to get done and then we take it on. After all, we’re talented, gifted, qualified, or have the expertise. It’s a good thing and needs to get done so why not me.

A recent study was done that looked at the relationship between people in relationship to power, authority, or influence and it’s effect on the quality of life of that individual. What they found in their study was an interesting result. They found that not only does the leader who is in the position of authority suffer at work but they also suffer at home. The study concluded that power not only prompts us to do bad things but can also make us feel worse at home. Being in positions of power as a leader can lead us to have very negative interactions with others. Therefore, not only causing us to grow weary but causing the people that we’re leading to grow weary.

Even the people suffer. Not only does it hurt your ministry when you’re not leading where God has called you to lead but you hurt the people that you’re leading.

My drivers license was about to expire and I did not want to go to the DMV. I kept putting it off. The DMV is legendary for long waits and causing enormous stress. I didn’t want to go. It reminds me of this scene from Zootopia.

Not only does it hurt your ministry when you are not leading where God has called you to lead, but you hurt the people you’re leading. Paul says in Galatians 6, “Let us not grow weary in well doing for in due season we will reap if we don’t give up.” The prophet says in Isaiah 40, “Even the youth will faint and grow weary. The young men will fall exhausted. But those who wait on the Lord shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint.” The task is heavy and you can’t do it alone. So, stop doing the good so that you can do the best.

3. Listen to wise counsel

Jethro, Moses’s father-in-law, came to him and gave him some great advice.

Exodus 18:19-23 ESV
19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

Make sure that you see that Jethro is giving advice and counsel with the contingency that God will direct Moses. Make sure that you pay attention to good godly counsel and counsel that is offered in connection to the will of God in your life. In verse 23 Jethro qualifies his advice by saying only follow this advice if God wills and directs you. Good advice is not going to be inconsistent with God’s will. Good godly advice is going to help guide you.

Moses was to present the people before God. He was to teach them the laws of God. By being the judge of the people, he was not able to do what God had called him to do and the ministry was suffering. This is the Great Commission. Jesus taught the disciples. God taught Moses. Moses taught the people. The disciples taught the people. This is a precursor to the Great Commission. We teach others, they teach others, and the result is that it lightens the burden. Other people help bear the load. The yoke is easy. God’s burden is light. The people are able to live in peace. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding and keeps our hearts and minds on Christ Jesus. So, listen to good godly counsel.

4. Let others help carry the load

Getting advice and not listening to it is not good.

Exodus 18:24-27
24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.

By listening to godly advice and not trying to bear the burden himself, Moses now has a system in place that allows him to do the most important thing and that is what God has called him to do. The people have another system in place that allows them to live better lives. There is a system in place now where Moses is able to disciple other leaders so they can carry out their purpose. In order to do this, Moses had to give some ministry away. He had to be willing to let others carry the load and give away responsibility. He had to learn to do the best and not get bogged down with the good.

The church functions the same way. This is the way that the body of Christ is designed. The model of the church is that we lead together. We are all pushing and going in the same direction. The older lead the younger. Women and men leading. Students leading. Many hands make light work. When we’re not leading where we are called and not listening to what God has called us to do it leads to burn out.  There are many people who have been great leaders for the Lord who are now not leading for the Lord because of this very principle. This is what I want us to leave with today. Leaders are going to share the work of ministry or they’re going to burn out. Not only are you going to burn out but the people are going to burn out. If you are being an effective leader, you’re going to share the work of ministry or you will burn out. You will be ineffective.

This same problem happened in the church in the first century. The disciples were teaching and preaching. The church was beginning to grow by hundreds and thousands. As the church was growing they were living in community with one another. They were sharing things with one another. The church grew to a point where the disciples realized they were spending more time making sure the people were taken care of that they were no longer doing the most important thing. The church had grown to a point that they needed people doing the good work of ministry the disciples could go about doing the best thing for them which God called them to do.

Acts 6:2-4 ESV
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

What is exciting to me about this is that what was good for the apostles so that they could do their best became the best for these seven. It wasn’t just good work but it was the best work. They were now doing what God had called them to do. This was their calling.

We are all formed and fashioned into the body. Some are hands, feet, ears, or eyes. We are the body of Christ. When hands want to be ears or eyes want to be noses the body of Christ suffers. However, when we are all where God has positioned us and leading where God has called us the whole body prospers and the church grows. The kingdom of God is expanded. The church is set up to function this very way. The church has pastors and elders to lead the church. Pastors lead, teach and preach. Elders lead and provide oversight. When the church is being led by people who are serving the way God has called them to serve the church functions better. When people are doing the best instead of the good ministry thrives.

We have identified some men in our church who have been called by God to not do the good but to do the best. Some will serve as pastors and one as an elder. We have been going through the process with them to affirm this in their life and we will bring them before the church at the end of the month to let you see and hear what God has called them to do. The goal for us today is to identify what is the good that I can give away so that I can spend my time doing the best. That doesn’t mean the good shouldn’t be done. It needs to be done but let the person who’s been designed for that do it so you can do what God has called you to do. Stop doing good so that you can do the best!

Next Steps

• Today, I choose to follow Jesus and accept him as my Savior.
– I’m doing too much. Pray that I can listen to wise counsel and prioritize my ministry so I can lead more effectively.
+ I am leading alone and the tasks are causing burnout. Pray that I find partners to help lead in ministry.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you found your life filled with work? What impact did it have on your ability to lead others?
2. How can doing ministry be a negative factor in the life of the Christian?
3. What are some of the risks one faces with being too involved in ministry and service? How can it affect your family? Your work? Your life?
4. Why did Jethro think the morning to evening work Moses did for the people was not a good thing? What makes Jethro’s advice so helpful?
5. How does Jethro’s advice to Moses practically apply to the ministry of the Church? What about to your specific place of ministry?
6. What is the impact in the life of Moses for listening to the advice of Jethro? How did it impact the daily life of the nation of Israel?
7. Pray that you heed the advice of Jethro and do the ministry God has equipped you and called you to, rather than the ministry of the urgent and immediate.