The Importance of Delegation

Meditation
Exodus 18:21-23—But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes. Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.  They should judge the people at all times.  Then they can bring you every important case but judge every minor case themselves.  In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear it with you.   If you do this, and God so directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied.
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Moses was bone tired.  The reluctant leader was trying to lead his nation from Egypt to the Promised Land and as if that was not enough pressure, daily he sat down to serve as judge for each and every dispute.  Can you imagine how many complaints desert-living created! From morning until evening he listened to grievances with long lines of people waiting to be helped. Fortunately, he had a very wise father-in-law, Jethro, who saw the folly in his actions and offered the sound advice we read in the meditation above. 

Why didn’t Moses think of delegating?  Perhaps because he spoke directly with God he felt like he was the only one qualified to judge.  Maybe he liked problem solving and just didn’t consider the possibility of wearing himself out.  Somehow he also missed the obvious fact that he was wasting people’s time as they waited to see him. Providentially, a humble Moses listened to Jethro and completely followed his advice.

If Moses could fly down and talk to us I suspect he would eloquently share how important delegation is.  If I think I am the only one who can do a task right I am badly mistaken.  If I fail to get others involved or belittle their work by micromanaging I will build distrust and steal the joy they have for work.  If I make people wait on me because I know best, I am a fool.   

​Delegation is a wonderful concept!  God saw our inability to live holy lives and entrusted to His Son the right and responsibility to be our Savior.  Jesus saw our need for rescuing and assigned His disciples the mission of spreading His gospel.  Did they disappoint Him?  Certainly! Delegation comes with risks—but failing to delegate creates greater problems.  Had Jesus not trusted His disciples and poured out His life training them, who would have continued His perfect work?  
 
Inspiration
Delegation is about trusting someone with responsibility and verifying they are handling it responsibly.—David Peck
 
©2014 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)