August 11
Carrying the Load
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. ––Matthew 11:29-30
In our last reading we discussed the need to drop the baggage we carry around that is holding us back from becoming the men God wants us to be. Sometimes, however, we go through seasons when God calls us to carry burdens. For example, when a child, friend, or spouse is ill, we may need to pick up the slack and carry their weight for a season. The same can be said at work when it’s a particularly busy season, or when a co-worker is out.
At times we need to step up and carry a burden, which is very different from being weighed down by toxic baggage that has nothing to do with God’s calling on our lives. And that’s the key word here: calling. Scripture reveals much about the differences:
Jesus in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-46) – When Jesus was praying in Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion, His burden was unimaginable. This was His calling—to die and rise again in order to defeat death and become the sacrifice needed to secure our salvation. His stress was so intense that he experienced hematidrosis, a very rare condition when a person under extreme stress sweats blood.
The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37)– We all know the parable: a man on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho was mugged and left for dead. A Temple priest walked past; so did a Levite (those who served the Temple priests). Then a pagan—a Samaritan—walked by, took notice, and helped the injured man. Do you think it was convenient for the Samaritan to take the time—and spend his own money—to help the injured man, and then transport him to the nearest inn to get him help? This is arguably the same pathway that David mentions in Psalm 23 when he refers to the valley of the shadow of death, as this road runs through a natural canyon as it ascends from the plain of Jericho up to Jerusalem. It could be a treacherous journey known to be frequented by highway robbers. The Samaritan is famous today because he decided to carry another man’s burden.
Elijah Flees Jezebel (1 Kings 19)– The hero of the day—the guy who calls down fire from heaven and defeats the priests of Baal—turns tail in fear soon after. Why? Because an infamous witch named Jezebel curses him and seeks revenge. This is a great example of taking up an unnecessary burden for all the wrong reasons! God called Elijah to Mount Carmel to use him as an example to reveal His glory to all those gathered there, both Jews and pagans. But rather than remaining in his calling, Elijah succumbs to fear and flees. I think we can all relate to both sides of Elijah here—one day we feel empowered and confident in God’s calling, and the next we feel overwhelmed and full of anxiety.
Man of God, we need to carefully discern between a burden God might be calling us to carry, and those burdens that are manmade or, frankly, straight from the pit of hell. Being connected —and staying connected—to the Holy Spirit is the only way forward for us. It’s a daily—and sometimes hourly—exercise. Don’t confuse a burden of the flesh with a burden from the Lord. Jesus gives us the key to discerning the difference in the verse above: His burdens are light; meaning, they lead to life, not death. We raise up others as we bend our spiritual legs and backs to lift from below. Like the Good Samaritan, we respond to hurt and harm, and don’t walk by. Jesus never promised us no burdens—but He has given us an easy yoke and promises that when we follow His calling, the burden will be light.
Lord, help me discern between the burdens You call me to carry, and the baggage I need to leave behind. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference, so please make it clear as I encounter potential needs in my daily life.