Why Good Pastors Make Bad DecisionsSample

Day 1: Even God's Spokesman Needed Management Training

Picture this: Moses just led two million people out of Egypt through ten miraculous plagues. He parted the Red Sea. He spoke face-to-face with God on Mount Sinai.

And his father-in-law—a Midianite priest who wasn't even Jewish—had to give him basic management advice.

The Trap Every Pastor Falls Into

Here's what we miss: Moses wasn't struggling spiritually. His relationship with God was rock solid. The problem? God's calling on his life didn't come with a leadership manual.

Moses was trying to personally judge every dispute among two million people. From sunrise to sunset, people lined up with their problems while Moses sat there like a one-man Supreme Court.

Sound familiar? How many pastors:

• Make every ministry decision personally;
• Can't delegate because "no one does it right;"
• Feel guilty saying no to any request;
• Burn out trying to be everyone's solution.

The most shocking part isn't that Moses needed help—it's who helped him. Jethro wasn't a prophet. He wasn't even an Israelite. He was a practical businessman who saw an organizational disaster and offered solutions.

Moses didn't pray about Jethro's advice. He simply recognized wisdom when he heard it and implemented it immediately.

Here's the part most pastors miss: Right after Moses fixed his leadership structure, God gave him the Ten Commandments.

What if Moses had stayed stuck in his dysfunctional system? What if exhaustion had prevented him from climbing Mount Sinai? What if burnout had cost Israel the very foundation of their faith?

Bad organizational decisions don't just hurt your ministry—they can block your next level of spiritual authority.

Let's pray: God, show me where I need practical wisdom, not just spiritual insight. Give me humility to receive help from unexpected sources.

In Jesus' name, Amen.