A Bowl of Cherries or the Pits
A Hell to Shun
An Encouraging Word
Bad Seed
Being in the Way
Blessed in Persecution
Campers
Changing Directions
Child Care
False Advertising
Field Goals
Heavenly Harmonies
Hot Water and Dead Frogs
I Accept
In Abba's Arms
Kitchen Aid
Laughing Matters
Let It Begin With Me
Lighten the Load
Low Life
Maybe Next Year
Narrow-minded
Out of the Pit
Penalties and Consequences
Prayer for Peace
Roots
Shoutin' Time
Sleeping Dogs
Song of Victory
Strange Affections
Sweet Sweet Spirit
The Fellowship of Believers
The Only Thing
Tough Enough
Urban Renewal
What's the Difference
Where's Your Sign
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Lighten The Load
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in hear, and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
How can I alone bear your burden, and your cumbrance, and your strife? Deuteronomy 1:12
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
One of the more vivid memories I have of my childhood is of my father walking down the road above the house, carrying a bag of feed. This was usually a burlap sack, and weighed up to a hundred pounds. Daddy wasn't a big man, but he was wiry and strong. He never had a car, so he carried what he needed when he could, or used a horse and sled when he couldn't. I can also recall seeing him shouting orders to his horse of many years, Prince, as the animal labored to pull a heavy load of fodder or hay to the barn. About the heaviest thing I ever carry is an armload full of files.
We see them everywhere; people appear to be carrying a lot on their shadows, but their back is empty and their arms hang loose. Some walk stooped over because of physical problems, or just poor posture, but many feel a weight in their minds and spirits that makes them bend over. They may be lost sinners, but they're Christians, too. Some carry their own burdens around, while some carry the burden of others, too. Moses carried the heavy weight of responsibility for the people of Israel around with him, until it became impossible to bear. On the advice of his father-in-law, he finally agreed to share the burden of leadership with others.
God promised his people to deliver them of their burden, to lighten their heavy load, both in the Old Testament (see Psalms 55:22) and the New. Jesus told us to come to him with our heavy so we can find rest. We can exchange our loads for his, which is much lighter. He bore the heavy load of sin for us on the cross; the burden of obedience to him is one we can carry, were born to carry. What is so sad for us, as Christians, is continuing to carry around a heavy load of guilt, worry, and fear when Jesus has his arms outstretched to take the burden from us.
Until we're willing, and able, to give our load up to Christ, there are a few things we can do in the meantime. Like Moses, we can share the burden with others. Whether out of pride or out of fear of rejection or ridicule, we fail to share our problems and difficulties with others in the body. Scripture tells us, quite specifically, to bear one another's burdens. That's not a suggestion; it's a command. It applies not only to our sharing our burdens with others, but our being willing to take on theirs in return. How? By turning a ready ear to listen, and taking note with our eyes of signs of pain and anguish. Above all, we should pray, not just once or twice, with a few words, but persistently, as long as it takes. Like our war as a nation with terrorism, our war as Christians with the enemy of our souls is a long-term affair. It will go on as long as we have breath, if Christ tarries.
What about our own burdens, though? Yes, we should share them with others, but most of all we should give them up to God. When we persist in worry and fear, when we wallow in guilt and self-condemnation, we cheapen God's grace and trample the blood of Christ underfoot. Certainly we shouldn't condemn ourselves because we have bad attitudes; that's simply another side of the same dark coin. We should realize, though, that loving God means trusting him, and obeying him. Christ already died for our sins; why should we carry around a load of guilt about things we've done, or should have done? God tells us repeatedly in his Word that he will watch over and protect us (see Psalms 91, for example), and that we shouldn't worry about anything. (Matthew 6:34, Philippians 4:6) Instead of taking him at his word, though, we keep on worrying about what might happen, to us or to our nation.
How do you learn to trust someone? By getting to know them, and knowing what you can expect of them, by seeing how they act toward others. Our greatest failure as Christians is our failure to spend time getting to know God, through his Word, through the fellowship of prayer, and through the fellowship of other believers. Our excuses for not doing so are myriad, but they are just that: excuses. If our lives are so busy that we can't find time for God in them, then we're spending our time on the wrong things. After all, every minute we live is a gift from God; surely he's entitled to a share of it. If we can bring ourselves into the daily discipline of Bible study, meditation, and prayer, we'll find the very best way to lighten our heavy load.
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