There are many reasons why people burnout in life. Bad habits, working too much, and trying too hard to live up to everyone’s expectations are all factors contributing to burnout. But, for people serving God and involved in ministry a risk factor that can lead to burnout is that we love people and want to help them. This is exactly what happened to Moses. He was a leader who cared deeply for his people and wanted to help them solve the problems in their everyday life. As a godly leader he did not solve their problems out of his own ideas, but earnestly sought to find God’s answers for the issues they were facing. This is commendable, but as Moses’ father-in-law Jethro watched how Moses was caring for people, it was very evident to him that the way Moses was caring for people was too much for one person! Jethro’s advice to Moses is very applicable to anyone who is seeking to help and serve others - organizational leaders, parents, teachers, pastors, counselors and member care professionals, and even with our friends.
