THE ART OF FOLLOWING
17 SO MOSES' FATHER-IN-LAW SAID TO HIM, "THE THING THAT YOU DO IS NOT GOOD.
18 “Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.
19 “Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel [advice], and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God.
20 “And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.
21 “Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
22 “AND LET THEM JUDGE THE PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES. THEN IT WILL BE THAT EVERY GREAT MATTER THEY SHALL BRING TO YOU, BUT EVERY SMALL MATTER THEY THEMSELVES SHALL JUDGE. SO IT WILL BE EASIER FOR YOU, FOR THEY WILL BEAR THE BURDEN WITH YOU.”
Exodus 18:17-22 (NKJV))
When God starts a new thing, He does not do away with the old outrightly.
God used Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, to give him a counsel about his assignment.
The man, the priest of Midian, shared his knowledge about leadership with Moses. The principle he shared with Moses is still relevant till date—until now (Exodus 18:1,13-23). In fact, the principle shared by Jethro with Moses is used in the secular world today.
A young person starting out in ministry may not know much about the nitty-gritty of ministry work, thus he may be desirous of mentoring—who to follow and learn from, about the assignment given to him.
Such a desire is a good one, and it is biblical: “FOR BY WISE COUNSEL YOU WILL WAGE YOUR OWN WAR, AND IN A MULTITUDE OF COUNSELORS THERE IS SAFETY” (Proverbs 24:6 NKJV).
God may stir your heart to follow a leader, or read after a proven author; there may be a reason for that.
You may have some people you revere in the ministry work, who are seasoned ministers of God, and you may want to listen to their words or counsels; there is nothing bad in it (Proverbs 11:14; 12:15)
However, make sure whoever you want to follow, or read after, is following the Lord Jesus. Paul said: “BE YE FOLLOWERS OF ME, EVEN AS I ALSO AM OF CHRIST" (1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV).
“IMITATE ME, JUST AS I ALSO IMITATE CHRIST."
1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV)
You follow as long as the person is following Christ.
If the person you are following misses it a little, do not follow that. You can follow somebody’s faith without following his doctrine!
The truth is:
If you follow someone closely or you read after him, that is, you read his materials extensively; you may discover that the spirit that works with the person begins to work with you. And that depends on the spirit the person yielded to, either of God or the devil.
Follow Jesus closely, and study the word of God extensively; God will reveal Himself to you (Ephesians 5:1).
Note:
• As important as it is to have a mentor, all the same, you must allow God to lead you on who to mentor you.
• Whoever will mentor you must be someone who has trodden the path you are about to tread. In other words, someone who has knowledge or experience in your line of calling.
The person must have been trained by the Holy Spirit in your line of calling, hence, you need God’s leading to know such a person.
• You do not choose a mentor randomly, you have to be divinely led by God.
• You need to pray about it; God will stir your heart, give you a knowing, a perception in your heart about who to follow.
• You should not be sentimental about it.
Know that:
• You may only need to learn from some people through their materials: books, writings and teachings. You may not necessarily need to meet them one on one.
• Also, your relationship with some may be for a particular phase or stage of your life and ministry.
We have no record that Moses needed to go back to Jethro again and again for other things he needed to do in his assignment. God may have used Jethro at that phase of Moses life and ministry, for a purpose.
However, God might want you to relate with some for the entire period of your ministry life.
May the Lord give you understanding in Jesus’ name.
You will not fail in your assignment in Jesus’ name.
Peace!