Who's Keeping Tabs?

The Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go . LUKE 10:1

Many of us moms seem to be hardwired to take care of our own business and make sure everyone else takes care of theirs. We spend years perfecting the art of tracking details and ensuring that our family stays on task. That “keeping tabs on everything” mentality might be a big part of the mom job description in our minds, but that doesn’t mean it’s how God wants us to be.

 

At times we get so accustomed to being the go-to person that it can be hard to realize we might not need to be the person keeping everything on an even keel. It’s actually all right to step back and let the people around us handle some of those things themselves.

 

Jesus was the perfect example of how we should share accountability. Although Jesus was capable of doing anything that needed to be done, the Bible tells of several times when He gave instructions to His followers and expected them to handle the jobs. For example, Jesus asked Philip for suggestions on how to feed a crowd of thousands (John 6:5–7). Jesus instructed two disciples to find a young donkey that He could ride into the city of Jerusalem (Mark 11:1–3). In some of His final directions, Jesus asked Peter and John to prepare a room where they could celebrate the Passover together (Luke 22:7–13). Jesus knew everything that needed to be done, but He didn’t insist on doing everything Himself.

 

This loss of personal control can seem unsettling. But if we ask, God will show us what things others can do and what we should handle ourselves. After all, He’s the ultimate master at keeping tabs on things.

 

 Lord, sometimes I’m afraid that if I don’t keep up with everything going on with my family, no one will. But I know it shouldn’t always be that way. Teach me to be like Jesus and ask others to step up and be responsible. Amen.