Summary: Volunteer leadership is strenuous. I want YOU to stand the strain well. I want you to be able to be in this for the long haul. The only way, and truly the Biblical way, is ministry multiplication.
Jethro was the father in-law of Moses. Jethro coaches and counsels Moses to create a tiered system of qualified leaders to manage, expedite and multiply the ministry Moses had been given. It is simple in structure, actually. Moses handled the hardest of cases. Yet he was to train and equip others to help shoulder the load.
Exodus 18:21-23 says, “But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
Notice the end game of what Jethro is suggesting: “...you will be able to stand the strain…” Volunteer leadership is strenuous. I want YOU to stand the strain as well. I want you to be able to be in this for the long haul. The only way, and truly the Biblical way, is ministry multiplication.