We Have to Delegate Responsibility to Others

Note from today’s Bible reading: Joshua 12-15

There is a rather blunt statement in Joshua 13:1 – “Now Joshua was old and advanced in years when the Lord said to him, ‘You are old and advanced in years, and very much of the land remains to be possessed.’” Not only was a plain and somewhat harsh statement made about Joshua’s age, but the Lord was sure to point it out to him as well.

We often do not want to confront our own mortality. Even though we know we will not be around forever, we often try to ignore this fact and act like we will. God made sure Joshua would not make this mistake.

However, something had to be done about the fact that “very much of the land” had not yet been conquered. So God told him, “Now therefore, apportion this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh” (Joshua 13:7). Dividing the land was not only done to give the tribes their inheritance, but it was also to divide the responsibility for conquering the land.

Just as Joshua would not be around forever, we will not be either. Understanding this reality, we have to work to equip others to carry on the Lord’s work after we are gone.

So we have to delegate responsibility to others. As much as we want to be diligent and active in the Lord’s service, we need to help others to be involved and work with us. In this way, we can help prepare the next generation – and, indirectly, future generations – to carry out the cause of Christ.