Choose the “Able Men” to do the Work

About a year ago I was studying the word “chose” and came to the passage in Exodus 18 where Moses was given advice to delegate his work to others. This morning I was led to that same passage as I study the word “able”.

I should be allowing and empowering those around me to do more of the work, at least the small things, so that I can focus my attention on the bigger things and those things that God has in store for me.

“²⁵Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.” – Exodus 18:25 (ESV)

Delegating things out does free up time and attention for other things, that is when they are delegated to those that want to and will do the work. You see, just moving things to someone else, so you do not have to do it, is not delegating, it is dele-dumping and the quality of the work will surely suffer. As Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, recommended, we should be choosing “able men” to do the work. These “able men” are those that not only have the position but also have the skills and desire to do the work. They should be asked and not told what is needed to allow for the opportunity to understand and buy into the very idea of the work, and not just to do something else. Working to get the right person for the job and not just someone to do the job is the approach that should be taken.

I have led teams in the past and in doing so have taken both the, “if you want something done right, do it yourself” approach as well as the “here, do this” approach, and neither of them fared to well. Either I worked myself silly “trying” to get everything done, and alienating my team, or I worked the team silly and offered nothing in return for the work done. It was not until I began asking for help and explaining why and what was in it for all that the team began to respond and improved performance for all was realized. I analyzed and discussed with each person to determine the right job for each of them and I found the “able men” for each task that freed me up to do the work that only I was able to do.

God has tasks for each of us and those tasks are designed to grow His kingdom. But, they are also tasks chosen for us to take advantage of the gifts He gave us. We are to buy into the tasks as we are chosen as “able men” for those items that allow God to continue His work in the areas that only He can do the work.

What areas have you deprived others of doing work? When work is being separated, what is the process for determining who does that work? What if you sought the “able men” instead of just someone to do the work, what are your thought on the success of the items and those chosen?