Burden: August 18, 2011

AUGUST 18 2011. TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2011

BURDEN

DEFINITION:

That which is borne, physically or spiritually; that which is carried; load; borne with difficulty; trouble.

SCRIPTURE:

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you. He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22.

“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Mathew 11:30.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

I (Ken) was born in China but left with my parents when I was only six months old. About three years ago we were privileged to go back to China and we saw where I was born and what life was like today in that country. One of the things that stood out to us was the heavy burdens that men and women would carry on their bikes. We saw items stacked dangerously high on bikes and some of the women even carried their young child in a sling as they rode a loaded bicycle to their destination.

Over the years we have seen many times in many other areas of the world people carrying heavy loads on their heads, on their backs or in hand pulled carts. This has given us a real understanding of the word “burden.”

When we think of burden we think of two definitions. First, is the burden of carrying a load both physically and spiritually. Secondly, we think of one being a burden to someone else.

Most people we meet today are carrying heavy burdens in their hearts. It may be a spousal concern, a parent/child problem, a family issue, a problem at work, financial stresses or much more. These are burdens that basically are too heavy for one to carry alone. Some times we hear the saying that a person is “carrying a lot of baggage.”

All those who have not accepted the Lord as their Savior are carrying the heavy burden of their sin. Jesus does not want us to bear the burden of our sins so He took our burden of sin upon Himself and carried them to the cross. In Jesus time on earth he experienced all the hardships and burdens of life that we experience. Not only does Jesus care about our burden of sin but He cares about our burden of hardships in life.

A person that does not know Jesus has no one to help carry his or her burden. But the person that knows Jesus can give “ALL” that burden to Him. The verse we have listed above says it all. The Lord says to “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he shall sustain you.” “Sustain” means to support or bear the weight of or keep from giving way. What a comfort to know that God wants to bear the weight of our burdens and keep us from giving way under the heavy load of a burden.

Paul in writing to the church in Thessalonica said in I Thessalonians 2:9, “For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring day and night, that we not be a burden to any of you while we preached to you the gospel of God.” Paul traveled from town to town to preach the gospel but he did not want to be financially dependent on others. He was a tent maker, so wherever he went, he worked to pay his way so that he was not a burden to anybody.

In his letter to the Thessalonians he wanted them to remember how he had worked hard not to be a burden to them. He lived his life as an example to them to live lives pleasing to God. We also should follow Paul’s example and be willing to work and not be a burden on others.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 1:1-2.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

PRAYER:

Help me today to give the burdens I carry to You. Give me the insight to see others that are carrying burdens so that I can show them the way to You. Thank You for the assurance I have that You are with me every moment of every day waiting to carry my burdens if I am willing to cast them on You.