Super bowl day deserves a football story - Alumni and fans of UCLA made life miserable for football coach Pepper Rodgers during a season when his team the Bruins got off to a horrible start. Nobody would hang out with him. “My dog was my only true friend” Rodgers said. “I told my wife that every man needs at least two good friends. She bought me another dog.”
Perhaps this year 2003 got off to a bad start… where can we go to be heard. To have a friend? Rodgers got a dog.
13 The next day, Moses sat as usual to hear the people’s complaints against each other. They were lined up in front of him from morning till evening.
14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “Why are you trying to do all this alone? The people have been standing here all day to get your help.”
15 Moses replied, “Well, the people come to me to seek God’s guidance. 16 When an argument arises, I am the one who settles the case. I inform the people of God’s decisions and teach them his laws and instructions.”
17 “This is not good!” his father-in-law exclaimed. 18 “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. 19 Now let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing him their questions to be decided. 20 You should tell them God’s decisions, teach them God’s laws and instructions, and show them how to conduct their lives. 21 But find some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as judges over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22 These men can serve the people, resolving all the ordinary cases. Anything that is too important or too complicated can be brought to you. But they can take care of the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow this advice, and if God directs you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law’s advice and followed his suggestions. 25 He chose capable men from all over Israel and made them judges over the people. They were put in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 26 These men were constantly available to administer justice. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but they judged the smaller matters themselves.
27 Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land. Exodus 18: 13-27 (NLT)
The people go to Moses to be heard… they see him as a friend who can help solve their arguments. Appreciate the situation…
Moses – rookie leader – just led the people out of Egypt. What a rush, powerful stuff – like defeat of Amalakites through him – holding up his hands to God, like a kid on PS2 console, water from the rock, Manna quail – see a grocery store appear, free food, see and experience sea opened up like a elevator door in Metrotown walk through dry land. Perhaps he feels he can do it all!
Sees himself as leader, people see him as leader (v.15) – “the people come to me to seek God’s guidance.” They come to him with all their complaints, everything, including the kitchen sink! This is not once a week thing he did on Sundays, but a daily occurrence. It’s from am to pm! I suspect to Moses, this is just great! Business is booming. Line-ups are long. I guess that makes Moses feel important, wanted and popular. He is Oprah, Dr. Phil, Donahue, lawyer, judge, and jury all warp in one.
Can you just imagine the line-up waiting to get a chance to hear Moses? This is no picnic in Stanley Park. “The people have been standing here all day to get your help” (v.14). Desert heat, not a air-cond room, can u just imagine the line-up rage? Imagine standing next to a guy who probably haven’t had a decent shower for days? These are people who have walked for days! Can u sense the frustration level that would lead them to seek a private audience with Moses and they would actually stand in the heat to get their disputes settled. Over here in our time we get agitated with just waiting for the red light to change to green in traffic. Imagine their agitation!
Then imagine the stress level that Moses must have had. It must have been unbearable. I can hardly handle disputes my kids have about who gets to sit where on the dinner table. Day in and day out Moses had to hear complaints. Can u imagine the effect this must have had on Moses, who is already quite old in his 80’s?
In the Jan/Feb 2003 issue of the BC Health Sciences Association publication called The Report:
A counselor begins working at a transition house for battered women. She spends her days listening to stories of spousal abuse and violence. Within months she begins to experience violent, disturbing dreams. She becomes hyper vigilant and over-concerned with her own safety and begins to experience severe anxiety and irritability.
A psychologist who specializes in treating victims of childhood abuse starts to suffer from severe fatigue and depression. She begins to suspect other people’s motives when she sees them with children, and to imagine them carrying out the horrific acts described to her by patients.
What this counselor and psychologist is going thru is called in psychological terms “vicarious traumatization” Do u detect a common thread to these stories and Moses situation in Ex. 18 our text this am - one person trying to do it all. Judgment of Jethro, Moses’ father in law - 17 “This is not good!” his father-in-law exclaimed. 18 “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.” Heading to major trauma! One person cannot go on and on and on hearing all these troubling stuff and not get burnt! But that’s what happens in our world and with Moses! When that happens everyone loses, the ones who help and the ones who are being helped. “This is not good!” I know God must have got Jethro into Moses’ face to shake him up and to prevent him from becoming a fruitcake.
Marcia Eberl, counselor at Victoria Women’s Transition House – “The one thing I want to stress is that it doesn’t matter how well-balanced, capable and emotional and mentally ‘together’ a person you are. It can happen to anybody… Whether it is obvious or not, you’re definitely affected, and it can affect you for a long time in your life.” It is a major cause of high turnover and burnout rate of our health care pros. The professionals at our BC Health Sciences Association are becoming aware of this very old phenomena and are now pushing for it to recognized as a “workplace hazard.”
As your pastor I want to be there for every one of you. But reality is I cannot handle the whole burden of this church ministry. I get sick as I did this past 2 weeks. I get called away. I realize I am not God. Should the church fall apart then? Jethro’s analysis of the problem is sound. Any leader will be worn out and the people too… It is simply too heavy of a burden for one person. To expect one person to be the answer man is not biblical.
In Acts 6 (NLT)
But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. Those who spoke Greek complained against those who spoke Hebrew, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers.
“We apostles should spend our time preaching and teaching the word of God, not administering a food program,” they said. 3 “Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business. 4 Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word.”
5 This idea pleased the whole group, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (a Gentile convert to the Jewish faith, who had now become a Christian). 6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.
7 God’s message was preached in ever-widening circles. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
Even the way the first church was structured, it was always a group, a team effort, not a one man show. I long to see this type of impact – Where people are led to the Lord and the word is spread in such powerful ways! Listen to Jethro’s wise advice…
19 Now let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing him their questions to be decided. 20 You should tell them God’s decisions, teach them God’s laws and instructions, and show them how to conduct their lives. 21 But find some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as judges over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22 These men can serve the people, resolving all the ordinary cases. Anything that is too important or too complicated can be brought to you. But they can take care of the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow this advice, and if God directs you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”
You can see where I am going? If we really want to follow Christ, to impact our world with the gospel, we must be committed to God’s vision of who we are and who are we? He says we are together are a capable people, a people of impact… a people who can serve others… who can help others touch eternity.
“…for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)
God called us out of darkness, not just to get a suntan and bask in the light, called us out of darkness to serve, to do good, showing others how good God is, declare the good news, share his light, bring out the praises of God into places where it is not heard…
God sees you and I as totally special, top draft picks, super bowl champions…
1. chosen – this is not random, but God’s intentional choice, his eyes are on you, he loves you eternally with great joy
2. a kingdom of priests – serve royalty, represent royalty – bridge the gap for others to God
3. a holy nation – citizen not of Canada, but a citizen of God’s kingdom – allegiance to Christ, holy - set apart
4. own possession – gives a sense of belonging, destination… arrived, know where u fit, i.e. security –no one can takes us away from God, not even the devil, nor trouble!
There is no doubt in my mind and in the Bible that God wants us to help others
44 Then the people will ask, “Lord, when did we fail to help you when you were hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in jail?”
45 The king will say to them, “Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for me.” Matthew 25:44-45 (CEV)
16 We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. That’s why we must give our lives for each other. 1 John 3:16 (CEV)
10 Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters. Gal. 6:10 (NLT)
Own up to God’s view of who we are
Open up the church to new groups
Organize GIBC into visible small groups – Jesus started with a visible 12
Obliterate any view that says, “I exist for me”
“Helping people to have a heart for God and for others”
Orientate our worldview around this Acts 2 vision…
44 And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.
Some of us are burning out… as we see the Post-modern cultural landscape…
n High percentage of unchurched
n Family fragmentation
n Lives out of control
n Increasing number of victims of crime
n Incredible stress
Immigrants – 1 in 4 from “visible minority” here in Lower Mainland
n Lack of genuine trusting relationship
n Loss of “small town” community
n Desire for “authentic” life
n Desire to “make a difference”
we need a good dose of encouragement, hope… then start with Becoming true friends for each other. Don’t go get a dog. How expensive that is? By becoming true friends we will change the world… disciple one another, shape another, this is the context for healing and change…“For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them.” Matt.18:20 Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Live that OUT! Intentionally share your life with another… be in a small group, don’t have one start one, connect with Christ through others!
We will grow larger if we are committed to growing smaller! Choose intentionally to be part of a small group… get involved and stay involved.
