“Do you need some help?” When someone asks you that question, what is your natural reaction? I think that our natural response might be a bit defensive, “No. I’ve got it. I’m fine” whether we really are or not. Why is that? There is a little part of us that doesn’t want to admit that we need help. We don’t need to ask for directions, we don’t need help with our parenting, we don’t need help preparing that holiday meal. We’d like to think that we can handle it ourselves, that we’ll figure it out. But sometimes, that point comes, when you finally realized that you are completely overwhelmed and it’s no longer a QUESTION, “Do you need help?” but it’s the declaration, “You need help!”
Moses found himself at that point. Moses, one of, if not, THE greatest leader of the nation of Israel, had his father-in-law Jethro, come to him and say, “Moses, you need some help.” And Jethro was absolutely correct. Moses had to be exhausted. Over the last year, Moses had returned to Egypt, the country in which he had grown up with a God-given mission. Lead God’s chosen people Israel out of Egypt to the land promised to them by God. However, the Pharaoh of Egypt was not so eager to simply allow his free slave labor to leave and so God sent 10 plagues upon the Egyptians and their land. After that final plague, Moses led the millions of Israelites out of Egypt. But quickly Pharaoh changed his mind and sent the mighty Egyptian army after the Israelites. God opened up the waters of the Red Sea and allowed the Israelites to pass through on dry ground, but when the Egyptian army pursued, the walls of water came crashing down, crushing one of the greatest militaries in ancient history. The Israelite’s gratefulness to God and his representative Moses was short-lived. They relentlessly complained to Moses about food and fresh water which God miraculously addressed. Most recently, the Israelites had found themselves under attack by a people called the Amalekites. Again the Lord gave decisive victory to the Israelites. While it must have been amazing to be in Moses’ shoes, leading God’s people, it was also exhausting and Moses’ father-in-law Jethro could see that Moses was being overwhelmed and needed help.
Jethro had gone to Moses to bring back to him his wife and two sons who had been staying with Jethro while Moses went to Egypt. Jethro watched as Moses listened to the Israelites and provided Godly guidance and instruction. Remember, we’re talking about a nation of millions of people who Moses was leading. Jethro looked at Moses and said, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear you out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (Exodus 18:18). In other words, “Moses you need help.” Did you notice Moses’ reaction? Moses does NOT say to Jethro, “Who do you think you are?” or, “Are you trying to say that I’m not doing a good job?” There is none of that. Moses respects the wisdom, the insight, the experience of his father-in-law and humbly listens to Jethro’s solution. Jethro says, “Select capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain – and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you” (Exodus 18:21,22). Jethro reminded Moses that God had given him people to help him, to share this ministry, this serving of God’s people.
Did you notice what the first qualification for someone helping Moses in one of these leadership positions needed to be? “men who fear God.” That relationship with God through faith was absolutely critical for those were going to provide faithfully lead God’s people today. And the same is true today. Those who are going to be serving God’s people, providing Godly leadership and guidance, need to have an active and growing relationship with their Savior-God. How does that happen? God tells us. Forty years after this account in Exodus 18, Moses would remind the people just before his death about the importance of God’s Word recorded in the Bible. He would say to them, “They are not just idle words for you-- they are your life” (Deuteronomy 32:47). One of Jesus’ disciples Peter would echo that thought when he said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). That living relationship with our Savior God is created and fostered through what we call the Means of Grace – the Word of God, Baptism and Holy Communion. That’s one of the reasons that we changed our By-laws this past year to clarify that those serving in leadership positions need to be regularly attending worship and group Bible study. How can a person provide Christian leadership if they are not regularly being led by Christ in Word and Sacrament?
Where does Christ lead us through the Means of Grace? He daily leads us to see our need for help. He leads us to his Word which is meant to guide us throughout life, and as we look at what our Savior-God’s will is for us, we see how often we have wandered and failed. We see the times when we have not shown respect our leaders or been willing to work with others. We see the lack of spiritual leadership we have shown in our families by the language we use, the priorities that we have set. We see opportunities to serve that we have passed up on, and the gossip and complaints that have discouraged others from serving. Yes, the Lord leads us to see our need for help. But he does not leave us figure it out on our own. Instead he gently leads us to see his perfect life, a life of loving obedience of God and wiling service to others. He shows us a life that was perfectly lived for us, to replace our imperfect one. He shows us the guilt of our sin fully paid for at the cross where he willingly sacrificed his life for us. He shows us a faithful and powerful God who only wants what is best for us, guiding us through this life with all its challenges and changes. A God who forgives us and calls us to his own. That is the Lord’s leading that shapes us, motivates us and empowers us.
That growing and active relationship with the Lord is one that is not merely critical for faithful Christian leaders, but it is critical for Christians and Christian churches in general. While that might seem so elementary, I think it can so easily get lost. I recently read an article in Christianity Today, a monthly magazine that looks at different topics within Christianity around the world. The article discussed one of the factors for people giving up on organized religion, and specifically the back-door loss of members in what are usually called “mega churches.” The article proposed that one of the reasons that people are quitting church is that the primary purpose of the church has been lost. Many churches today describe their purpose in terms of relationship with the world. The church is there to change the world and make it a better place and help people. When that becomes the primary purpose of the church, people see no difference between the church and any other volunteer organization that is trying to help people. They see no difference between church, the human society, soup kitchens, building homes for people or any other volunteer organization. They’re all just trying to make the world a better place. Dear friends, the church’s primary purpose is about our relationship with God, a relationship which has been fully restored by Christ Jesus. That relationship will naturally lead to us want to help and serve the people in the world around us. But we always need to remember that our relationship with the world flows from our relationship with our Savior Jesus.
That relationship with Christ Jesus is critical for those who are going to provide faithful Christian leadership within the church, but it’s not the only qualification. Did you notice the word that kept popping up in Exodus 18 when it talked about the selection of those who would help Moses? It’s the word “capable.” Moses was to look for men who had demonstrated certain abilities to serve in these positions – those who had demonstrated Godly wisdom, leadership, the ability to listen and communicate. That reminds us that being a faithful Christian does not automatically qualify every person for every position within the church. That’s where our first reading from Romans 12 comes in. God gives different abilities, interests and experiences to people so that they can serve within the church in different ways and at different times. Ministry is not meant to be a one man show. Ministry is meant to be shared. That is the eagerness and humility that Moses demonstrates in this account. The EAGERNESS to serve and to want others to serve. The HUMILITY that not only allows but encourages and equips others to serve.
That’s one of the more exciting things that I see within our congregation and I look forward to seeing it grow even more. Our Ministry Teams continue to add more members and new ministry teams are being formed to serve in new ways. It’s what I’ve seen in our Church Council members who have put in many hours behind the scenes which many times goes unrecognized and under-appreciated. And if you’ve ever served on the Church Council or your spouse has, you realize the amount of work that goes on that few see. I see that sharing of ministry in our Sunday school teachers who faithfully prepare and present God’s saving truths. I see it our preschool teacher and assistant teachers and volunteers who share Christ with children and their families. I see it with our VBS coordinators and volunteers, our money counters, cleaners, choir members, ushers, greeters, contributions, and the list goes on and on. Ministry is being shared because of the relationship that we share as members of this church – a relationship with God through faith in Christ Jesus.
My prayer is simple, that we grow to more and more appreciate the relationship with Christ that is strengthened through what takes place in our church – the leading that Christ provides for us through Word and Sacrament. And that from that growing relationship with Christ, we eagerly and humbly long to serve and encourage others to serve our Lord and his people, with whatever gifts and in whatever ways he graciously provides. Amen.
