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Who’s Your Jethro?
“Who’s Your Jethro?”
A Reflection on Exodus Eighteen
Do you have a mentor? Do you seek wisdom from trusted people?
Moses has a lot on his plate. He was able to lead but had an awful system in place to deal with the squabbles of the people. He alone served as mediator and judge of every dispute, big or small, among the thousands of people of Israel. It was wearing him out.
His father-in-law, Jethro, got it right when he said, “What you are doing is not good.”
Jethro was a man that Moses trusted and respected. He had a proven track record of being a compassionate leader. After all, it was Jethro that took Moses in when he was all alone in the desert. Jethro had clearly led his family well. And on top of that, he was a priest- a significant spiritual leadership position.
Jethro gave Moses some advice. First of all, teach the people God’s laws. This way they can work out many of these issues themselves. Second, find capable and trustworthy men who can make sound decisions on disputes at lower levels. Then that leaves Moses with handling only the complicated cases. This is set up much like our court system today with Moses serving as the Supreme Court.
Moses implemented Jethro’s advice and lightened his load. At the same time, he provided opportunities for other people and everyone was better off for it.
Do you have a Jethro? Are you listening to the wisdom of trusted mentors?
There are a lot of people who will gladly tell you what to do, but are you listening to the ones who know what they’re talking about? The ones who have proven themselves by the way they have lived their life and the love they have shown you? If not, what are you waiting for?
Here are some questions to ask as you determine a mentor:
- Do they care about you?
It seems like it could go without saying but the truth is not everyone has your best interest in mind. Often it’s their own. Make sure your mentors personally care about you. - Do they have dirt on their feet?
Meaning, have they lived a life of experience? Do they even know what they’re talking about? For instance, I would value marriage advice from someone with a long and successful marriage over someone who’s been divorced a couple times. Don’t get me wrong, we should listen to people who’ve divorced and learned from their experiences. But I would much rather seek the counsel of someone who’s doing what I’m pursuing. Same goes with careers, raising children, money management, etc. - Do you have all the answers?
What good is sound advice if you’re a know-it-all? Sure, not every piece of advice is right for you, but many times it will be. Are you humble enough to admit that? What if Moses thought too highly of himself and didn’t listen to Jethro? That would have been stupid. Don’t be stupid, be teachable.
Once you have a Jethro (or Jethro’s) in mind- simply ask them if they’d mentor you. Be up front about what you’re seeking from them. Actually take some of the advice they give, otherwise you’re just insulting them. Thank them often and be respectful of their time. Mentoring someone is an investment. Don’t take it for granted.
Imagine what kind of difference a Jethro could make in your life?
Tweet This!“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.” - Proverbs 19:20
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