Exodus 18

"'What you're doing is not good,' Moses' father-in-law said to him."

Exodus 18:17

Wisdom from a father-in-law - there's nothing quite like it.  Here, Jethro is referring to the fact that Moses is taking too much responsibility in being judge over all the Israelites.  He recommends selecting God-fearing men who hate bribes, and placing them over smaller numbers of people to judge easier cases.  They can then take any difficult cases to Moses.  This structure worked so well that it's the basis for our current US Judicial system.

I think it's important to note, here, that Moses had a problem that is actually quite common: he tried biting off more than he could chew.  All the time, we see people taking on more responsibility than they can handle.  Most times, when we think someone is being irresponsible, it's actually just that they have taken on too many jobs and don't have time or energy for them all.

I'd love to be able to fulfill every task that my family, friends, employers, and church ask of me.  I wish I had enough time in the day to please everybody around me.  But I don't.  This is why it's vital that we learn to understand God's calling for each of our lives.  God called me to be a teacher, which I do to the best of my ability.  However, any time I get drawn into too many outside tasks, my effectiveness as a teacher dwindles.  My personal calling comes before other forms of worship and servitude.  Of course, my family comes before even that (they are my first calling).

My point is not to say that we should use these callings as an excuse to do nothing else.  On the contrary, I think that helping at church, coaching kids' teams, or whatever other acts of giving we choose to participate in are a huge part of becoming an overall better person!  However, we shouldn't over-commit ourselves, which just leaves us unable to perform any of these tasks well.  Think about how much time you have.  Think about how much time you need.  Remember that rest is also an important factor in the picture.  Then, choose those tasks which link most closely with your personal calling, or those which involve your family, or those which you think you are best suited for.  Don't be afraid to say, "No." to a lot of requests.

Question: Do you overwork yourself or underwork yourself?  Think about all the commitments you have, and think about how much energy you feel like you have on a daily basis.  Is there a balance in all of this?  Do you need to cut out some of your commitments in order to focus more effectively on others?  Do you have tons of extra time that could be devoted to other duties?  Where does your life currently lie on the scale from not enough to too much?  What can you do to find balance?