SERVING SINGLE-HANDEDLY?
“They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.” Numbers 11:17
“I can’t do it anymore! These people are driving me crazy! How am I suppose to love and care for people that act like this?!” Sometimes serving God’s people seems like an impossible task.
In Numbers 11, Moses has a classic church-worker meltdown. Overwhelmed at the people’s complaints and demands, he brings his frustration to the Lord (vv.11-12):
[Moses] asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them…?”
Sound familiar? It comforts me to know that the great prophet Moses, the servant who spoke directly to God and witnessed such incredible miracles, had days of stress and distress, just like we do. Caring for God’s people is a lot of work. It’s rarely easy. Sometimes we get so busy caring and helping others that we fail to let others help and care for us.
God’s response to Moses’ prayer is telling:
“Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people… I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.” Numbers 11:16-17
God didn’t require Moses to carry the burden all alone. He opened Moses’ eyes to others in the Body of believers who could help, and He showed Moses how to allow others to share the burden. God doesn’t require you to serve alone either. He has connected you to others who can support you, serving alongside you.
If we insist on serving alone, whether from pride or from perfectionism or from other sin, we deny others the blessings of serving. We deny ourselves the comfort of seeing Jesus at work through his Body. How thankful we can be that Jesus died for all our sins – even those we commit as we serve Him! And how thankful we can be that He hasn’t left us alone. Thank Him today for those who surround you, who serve as His hands to comfort and relieve you.