How can we wrap up this discussion without learning from our perfect Model, Jesus Christ? He perfectly showed us how critical delegation is for anyone on a mission.
Jesus knew exactly what He was here to do and the short time He had to accomplish it. So, He chose 12 disciples to be His hands and feet, sending them to places He couldn’t physically reach so He could stay focused on what mattered most. Can you imagine how little He would have accomplished if He had tried to visit every town and city Himself? It would have practically and humanly been impossible.
Remember, while Jesus was fully God, He chose to embrace the limitations of being fully human during His time on earth. He wasn’t omnipresent in His earthly body—a sacrifice He willingly made for us. By delegating, He ensured His mission could extend far beyond His physical reach.
In a similar way, we see the apostles doing this in Acts 6:1-4. When the issue of food distribution arose, they realised they couldn’t do it all without losing focus on prayer and teaching. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program… Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word” (Acts 6:2,4).
And what was the result? Acts 6:7 tells us, “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”
In other words, delegation allowed them to be more effective, concentrating on what truly mattered – teaching God’s word.
Examples of Times Jesus Christ Delegated
- When Jesus sent his 12 disciples to the lost sheep of Israel, he gave them power to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons, and give as freely as they had received (Matthew 10:5-9).
- When Jesus sent out the 72 disciples two by two to visit the towns and places he was planning to go. (Luke 10:1).
- When Jesus commissioned believers, including you and me, to go into the world and preach the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-20; John 20:21).
- When Jesus instructed two disciples to go ahead to the village and prepare the donkey for his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. (Matthew 21:1-2).
- When Jesus gave instructions to his disciples to prepare for the Last Supper. (Matthew 26:17-19).
- When Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000 and later the 4,000, his disciples distributed the food to the crowd. (Matthew 14:13-21; Matthew 15:32-35).
To Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
As a business owner, much of the success of your business depends on how effectively you can delegate. This is, after all, the primary purpose of hiring employees; to take on the responsibilities and tasks you cannot manage alone. It’s why we have Human Resource Managers: to identify, recruit, and seek out the best talents to help your business thrive.
However, it’s not enough to hire the best minds; you must also implement and maintain good, biblical business practices that foster a workplace where these talents are nurtured and retained.
For instance, pay your staff well so they can work enthusiastically for your company and align themselves with your vision. I believe this is why the Levites were content to serve God. Scripture shows how abundantly God provided for them; He commanded cities to live in, food, and resources of every kind to be given to the Levites, so they could focus on serving Him and His people, free from the burden of wondering where their next meal would come from. (Numbers 35:1-3, Numbers 18:8-14, Numbers 18:21-24, Deuteronomy 18:4, Nehemiah 13:10-14).
Similarly, the disciples were content to serve and work alongside Jesus because they lacked nothing.
A well-cared-for team is not only productive but loyal, creating an environment for growth and success.
Paul said, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages” (1 Timothy 5:18).
While he was specifically referring to those in ministry, I believe this principle also applies broadly to the labor market.
A happy employee fosters a happy company, while a disgruntled employee undermines productivity and morale. Paying your workers their due wages is not a waste but an investment. Wellness packages, bonuses, and other incentives are not frivolous expenses, they motivate employees to perform better and take pride in their work.
Admittedly, you may not always have the luxury of trusting those you need to delegate to, yet if the advantages of delegating outweigh the disadvantages, my advice is to delegate it nonetheless albeit with caution and wisdom.
For example, Judas Iscariot, a man whose heart wasn’t in the right place, was given the responsibility of managing the disciples’ treasury, despite the fact that they were aware he often stole from the treasury. (John 12:6). However, Jesus showed he was discerning and cautious when he did not take Judas up to the mountain for his transfiguration. Instead, he chose Peter, James, and John, those I believe he could trust with such intimate significant moments of His life that needed to be kept a secret. (Matthew 17:1-9).
Before you think this can’t be right, consider this: can you honestly say you are 100 percent trustworthy? Or were you 100 percent trustworthy when He called you into His service?
Yet God still entrusts you with responsibilities. He gives us tasks in measure, increasing what He commits to us as we prove faithful with the little. Similarly, employers hire the best hands they can find, even though they cannot be entirely certain of a candidate’s capacity. They take a chance, guided by resumes, interviews, and intuition.
If God has taken a chance on you, and if your employer has taken a chance on you, then you, too, should take a chance on others. Delegation requires learning to trust and accepting that working with people means navigating their imperfections, while keeping your focus on the goal.
