Many of us dream of a more effective life—a life where, as we’ve discussed, we can “work fewer hours and achieve exponentially more than we ever dreamed.” This isn’t a fantasy, but it doesn’t happen by magic. It requires a fundamental shift in how we operate.
The very next step on this journey, and perhaps the most crucial, is learning to work with people.
This is not just about delegation. It’s a change in your leadership posture, moving from a solo operator to a true collaborator.
When God first created man, the design was for sustainable plenty, not overwhelming toil. Toil, as we see in Genesis 3, was a result of the curse of disobedience.
Look at Abraham. He was incredibly hardworking and successful, yet we never read that he was overwhelmed or burned out. His secret? Wherever he went, he acquired people—servants and slaves—who became his people. He treated them with dignity, like children. When he prayed for his servant Eleazer, it was with genuine love and good intentions. Abraham didn’t just use people; he built a community and worked with them.
Contrast this with Moses. Here was one of history’s greatest leaders, and he was on the fast track to complete burnout. He was trying to do it all himself, serving as the sole judge for every single dispute among the people, from morning until night.
It took an outsider, his father-in-law Jethro, to see the crisis and offer a solution. This advice is one of the most powerful leadership principles in scripture:
“Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.” (Exodus 18:24-26)
This is the Jethro Principle. It’s a model of empowerment. Moses didn’t just dump tasks; he appointed capable leaders, gave them real authority, and trusted them to handle the “simple cases.” This freed him to focus on the “difficult cases”—the high-level work that only he could do.
We see this principle again in the life of Joshua. As the Israelites prepared to conquer Canaan, God sent a mighty angel to fight with them. But the angel didn’t do all the fighting. The people of Israel still had to go to battle.
In fact, everyone had a part to play. Joshua didn’t tell the priests—who carried no weapons—to “go and hide” because the war would be intense. No! They were given one of the most critical roles: to march ahead of the army. God was fighting alongside His people, and He expected everyone to participate.
This is a profound message for every leader, whether you’re in a boardroom, a small business, a church, or your own home.
Are you still trying to be the hero? Do you tell people to sit back and watch while you do all the hard work? Are you, like Moses before Jethro, trying to judge every “case,” big or small?
If you are overwhelmed, it may be a sign that you are not just working for people, but you have failed to work with them.
It’s time to apply the Jethro Principle.
- Identify your “simple cases.” What are the tasks and decisions you are handling that a capable person on your team could manage?
- Find your “capable men (and women).” Look for the potential in those around you.
- Empower them. Give them real responsibility and the authority to see it through. Trust them.
- Focus on your “difficult cases.” Use your freed-up time and energy to tackle the high-impact, strategic challenges that truly require your attention.
God’s model for success isn’t burnout. It’s collaboration. It’s empowerment. It’s working together!
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