Where do great ideas come from?

Where do great ideas come from?  As a spirit filled Christian we want to be led by God.  We study Scripture and pray, seeking God's will for our lives.  We ask Him for direction.  So does that mean that we should only adapt ideas that come directly from God?

I don't think so.  Read this excerpt from Exodus 18 and then I will give you my reasoning.

Exodus 18:13-23(NKJV)

13And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 

14So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”

15And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 

16When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

17So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 

18Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 

19Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 

20And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 

21Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 

22And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. 

23If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

The first lesson I would like to point out is the value of being humble and willing to take advice from others.  Now think about this.  Here you have Moses.  A guy who has a direct line of communication to God (as do we through the Holy spirit).  Knowing human nature as I do you might expect someone who talks directly to God to maybe be a bit arrogant about taking advice from others.  But not Moses. 

His father in law observes that Moses is over working himself.  The father in law explains the concept of delegating authority to Moses.  He lays out what to look for in those you delegate that authority to.  He talks about training those you are delegating authority to.  The benefit is that their society will run more efficiently and will avoid on person having to do too much of the work and getting burnt out.

 

Because Moses was humble and willing to take advice from others, society benefited. 

Lesson number two is vital if lesson number one is going to be successful.  Hear is what Moses' father in law said

"23If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

Lesson number two is it's OK to take advice from others, provided you check that advice with God before implementing it.   There are a lot of places to find good ideas.  God gave us an intellect and He expects us to use it.  However, before implementing ideas that we find elsewhere, always check them with God.  As long as you do that I don't think you can go wrong.