I grew up with the mentality that if you want something done right, you need to do it yourself. What a damaging way to look at things! We were not created to do everything on our own. I can tell you from personal experience that if you try to do everything yourself, you’ll burn out. Another thing is that you’ll lose clarity and start making poor decisions after a while. However, the worst thing for me is that when I try to do everything myself, I keep others from stepping into their calling. God sends us people to share the load with, but we keep denying them what God has sent them for as we wear ourselves out. Delegation is not a sin. Handing things off is not bad. When you learn to do this, you’ll start accomplishing more.
In Exodus 18, Moses’ father in law, Jethro, came to visit. Moses told him all God had done in Egypt and they celebrated. The next day from sun up to sun down Moses listened to people share their disputes with him and he made judgements for them. Jethro asked him why he was doing that by himself. Then in verse 18 he said, “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” (NLT). He told Moses how to delegate that role. The best part is that Moses listened. He didn’t tell him that he didn’t have a right to tell him how to do things. He didn’t try to justify it, nor did he get upset. He recognized wisdom and implemented it making his life exponentially better.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.” How good are you at letting things go? What has God been trying to move off of your plate? It’s been my experience when you let go of certain things, it frees you up to grow and make a greater impact. The Bible tells us to share each others burdens, to entrust work to faithful people, to pray together and to encourage and build each other up. When we try to do these things on our own, we miss so many of the blessings God has for us. Let go of the lie that you need to do everything yourself. Quit holding on to things you are supposed to let go of and open yourself up to more of what God wants to give you. It’s time to let go so you can grow.
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Devotions by Chris Hendrix 