Different Types of Burdens

August 3, 2010 at 1:10 pm | Posted in Galatians, Uncategorized | 19 Comments
Tags: bearing burdens, dealing with stress, Galatians 6, Jesus Christ, John 13, law of Christ, Matthew 11, Psalm 55, stress

One day, Jesus of Nazareth stood up in a busy corner of the marketplaces of Capernaum. People were rushing to and fro, busy with the cares and concerns of everyday life.

This Jesus began to speak openly, and He said a remarkable thing.

Come unto me, all ye that labour 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 heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Psalm 55:22 tells us, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” And then, there is this interesting Scripture:

For every man shall bear his own burden.

Galatians 6:5

So, which is it? Are Christians supposed to accept the invitation of Christ, and exchange our heavy burdens for His light one? Are we supposed to cast our burdens upon the Lord? Should we find someone else to bear our burden for us? Or, is it back to square one: each person bearing his or her own burden? The answer lies in the type of burden to be borne.

First, there is the burden of the soul’s concern for the chronic cares of survival and mortality itself. This burden will wear us down, and eventually crush us, if we try to carry it in our own strength through the everyday trials and struggles of life. This burden must be exchanged for the burden of our Master. His burden is a joyful reminder that, one day, we will spend eternity with Him. The thought that the tears, pain, and death, which are inevitable in this earthly life, will one day pass away, is a burden which is light and easy to bear.

Second, there are some burdens which God never intended for you to bear. These include physical infirmities, overwhelming circumstances, and the never-ending battle against the temptation to sin. These burdens are to be cast upon the Lord. He will bear them for us.

Third, there are some burdens which may be shared with a brother or sister in Christ. These include burdens which can be alleviated through prayer, encouragement, and charitable giving. When you see someone bearing a burden that you can share, do not hesitate to fulfill the law of Christ: “Love one another.”

Finally, there are burdens which God wants each of us to be attentive to on our own. These burdens help strengthen us, and make us more like Christ. When I am tempted to meddle with someone else’s burden just out of idle or morbid curiosity, and not a desire to truly help, I will be better off concentrating on bearing my own burden instead.