Tag Archives: Jethro

A Life Without Relationships

Casual friendships will come and go depending upon circumstances in life.  Yet, everyone needs at least one permanent meaningful lasting relationship to get you through hardship, struggles and trials.  Unfortunately, some choose to become lone rangers, wandering through life alone.

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?”- Exodus 18:14

After leading Israel out of Egypt into the wilderness, Moses fell prey to this mindset.  Serving as the supreme judge, Moses worked from sun up to sun down, about sixteen hours a day.  During a visit from his father in law, Jethro made an obvious observation, “what you are doing is not good.”  Jethro’s advice was to train other judges, then delegate basic and simple cases to these men.  The decision to alter his course prevented Moses from living a life without relationships.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her,” Luke 10:41-42.

Unfortunately, I have a tendency to follow in Moses’ footsteps, trying to do everything on my own.  Anyone who continues down this path is destined to become burned out or overwhelmed.  Some refer to this as the Martha complex, when you are so consumed with day to day chores you forget to enjoy the people God has blessed you with.  Heed the wise words of Jethro so that you don’t live a life without relationships.

by Jay Mankus

Accumulating Stress

I tend to be an easy going person, letting stress or worry roll off my back.  However, as each day passes without a call, email or sign about my future, stress is beginning to amass.  As bills and debt accumulate daily, I feel as if I am powerless as the next wave of stress comes crashing through, sucking me into an under tow of worry.

If anyone understood stress, it was Moses in Exodus 18.  Before Jethro intervened, Moses was overwhelmed by his responsibilities as the only judge in all of Israel, Exodus 18:13-16.  From morning til evening, 6 days of week, Moses tried to settle any and every kind of dispute throughout the land.  Finally, Jethro steps in to help elevate the stress Moses was experiencing, Exodus 18:17-23.  The solution was simple: delegate responsibility to others, train and equip qualified people to become petit judges and rule as the Supreme Judge, taking only the difficult cases.

In the New Testament, there is a solution to accumulating stress, take it to the cross.  Although, it is not as easy as it appears.  Its one thing to say you are going to leave your burdens at the cross, its another thing to actually let go.  Just as Moses obeyed the words of Jethro in Exodus 18:24-26, I need to submit to Jesus’ request in Matthew 11:28-30.  As people wave the white flag and surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ, the tide will wash accumulating stress out to sea.  As the group David and the Giants once sang, Let Go and Let God!

by Jay Mankus