Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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                Stewardship of the Resource

                          Exodus 18:13-27

                          Jobin M. George,

                        Chicago MTC, Illinois.

23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

What is our opinion of advice or help? Now, let us think about our opinion of both as a believer. Do we prefer to give advice or take advice?

Imagine a man who is in his sixties, leading an active Christian life with his wife and children. This man loves God, loves his wife and kids, and loves his brothers and sisters in Christ. One summer, he decides to build an out-house and he goes to the nearest hardware store and buys the required materials and equipments. He does not ask his wife or kids for their input about the work he is undertaking nor does he care for their suggestions. He simply works on his own and makes it a point to reject the helping hands of his sons. His neighbor advices him to take his sons’ help but he blatantly disregards the neighborly advice as well. He wants to build an out-house for his family to enjoy in the summer and to hold Bible study sessions and he wants to do it his way. He achieves his goal alone within a short period of time and looks at his creation with pride.

This man may be you or someone you know. Whoever he may be, the actions of this man and his refusal to heed advice or help is not biblical. In our human nature, we tend to act like this man. We take burdens and own it while refusing the encouragement or helping hands of others. We may do this in our church life, our prayer groups, our family lives or at work. Our intentions may be faultless and even Godly in our eyes but that is far from the truth.

When we take a look at the above-mentioned passage from Exodus, we find Moses showing a truly Godly example for us. Moses having carried out miracles on behalf of Yahweh heeds to the advice of his father-in-law. Moses had the best intentions in delivering justice to his people, yet, he was wise enough to listen to advice from someone else. Remember, God did not deliver the advice that would better serve the Israelites in person, it was through the mouth of Jethro. Moses was wise enough to know the value of what he was hearing from Jethro and found peace for himself and his people by listening to Jethro’s advice. Could Moses have carried out his duties as judge alone? Maybe he could have. Was he more efficient after listening to Jethro? Absolutely.


                             PRAYER

Father, who is most trustworthy and never wavering from promises, give to us wisdom and a pure heart to heed others’ timely advice and encouragement so that we may better serve Your Kingdom. Amen.

               THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

What are the areas of our life where we can be more like Moses?


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