What's Your Burden and What's Your Yoke?

SO WHAT'S YOUR JOB IN THE KINGDOM?

Some people say that God doesn't want us to carry a burden, but I strongly disagree. Responsibility is a necesssary burden that all of us must bear, and especially when it comes to service within the kingdom of God and church of Jesus Christ.

We live in a day and age where people want to be served rather than to serve; independent rather than interdependent; free rather than obligated; indulged rather than involved; uncommitted rather than committed; detached rather than depended upon; and we could go on and on.

Church becomes more like a smorgasbord where families attend because of what's being served, rather than like a family where relationships are built on the foundation of commitment and self-sacrifice, as opposed to convenience and what's in it for me.

Jesus didn't say that we are to be burdenless. What He said was that He could make our burdens light. In fact He commands us to come to Him and be yoked up.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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."
(Mat 11:28-30)

It's funny in a way, but one of the fruits of personal "freedom" (that is freedom FROM self-sacrifice, commitments, obligations, and freedom TO do what best interests or serves you) is STRESS AND ANXIETY. (And medical science will tell you that stress and anxiety is the number one killer of our physical bodies.)

What Jesus offers us is a yoke of lifelong servitude in the kingdom of God, but what Jesus promises us is BLESSING AND PEACE! I.e., rest for our souls.

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.