Sound Advice

Read Exodus 16:1 through 18:27

Kathryn complains, “I feel like I’m always rushing around, always stressed. With family, work, church—my life is so busy! And I can’t seem to say ‘no!’” In some circles, stress has almost become a status symbol. However, there are times that it is necessary to “cut back” on one’s responsibilities to maintain health and peace of mind.

Moses once faced a similar problem. As God’s appointed leader, the newly-freed Israelites came to him to seek God’s will. Whenever they had a dispute, Moses would act as a judge to settle the issue. His father-in-law, Jethro, was concerned.

Moses father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (Exodus 18:17–18).

Jethro offered some sound advice. He suggested a plan to appoint capable men to assist Moses in the work. The work load was evaluated, and distributed among responsible men. Moses was able to handle his responsibilities.

Challenge for Today: Feeling stressed out? Evaluate your work load and set priorities. If necessary, cut back!