Resources/Articles
Overloaded: A Burden I Carry (1)
Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor. For each man shall bear his own burden.
Galatians 5:1-5
Those are powerful words.
Who carries the greatest burden: The one who has the largest burden or the most burdens? Do you believe people take on burdens with joy or stress, delight or disappointment, responsibility or complaint?
It is the one who has the burden who believes he or she is OVERLOADED! In his/her voice, there is not much of an expression of delight or joy in their busyness. They usually talk about “how much I have to do.”
Sometimes they express themselves in conversation with others about their busyness as if it were a contest to see who has the most or the heaviest burden to carry. You explain what you are doing, and the other person says, “Well, I need to...got to...have to...would love to have your schedule,” as if what they are doing is of greater value since it is more - or seemingly larger - in portion. We even measure our busy schedules against another, and if mine is greater, I win. If yours is greater, I lose.
We do not “weep with them that weep” (Romans 12:15). We are impatient “with them that weep.” Those who speak loud and often about their “rest,” the burdened will resent. When those who are burdened lack rest and peace, and there is no sympathy toward them about the strain or pressure they endure, pride feels defensive. The burdened believes “I must be ‘right,’ and the other ‘wrong’ because they do not have as much to do as I have to do.”
The sad part is we are running the “rat race,” and view each other as competitors rather than brethren. In a world of busyness, we need to determine what burdens are ours and ours alone. Then see what burdens are for us to help carry with others - not carry for them, but with them.
Listen to the word of caution in Galatians 6:3: “For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” Lesson #1 is do not think you can handle more burdens or busyness than others. Taking on more may be Satan’s yoke, not God’s mission of service for you. However overloaded you are, in some cases, it is your choice to be there. It is also your choice to be free of the burden or out from under the yoke.
The result of being overloaded is spiritual frustration. If you ask a busy Christian, “Do you care about your soul?” the answer will be “Yes.” Then, most will express their frustration at their failure to be what they should be spiritually. They mention “not knowing enough to teach,” being “disappointed about the Bible class or the teacher in the class,” they “don’t get much out of the lesson,” or they say, “I wish we had a class on this or that.”
If all of the above described situations were ideal, their busyness will not allow them to teach, attend the class, or they would sit distracted, thinking about what they’re going to do later. Ask them if they are concerned. They will say, “Yes,” but in reality they are spiritually frustrated. They will talk about their frustrations with others, but they are really frustrated with themselves. As them how they are spiritually, and they do not ever feel they measure up, live good enough, know enough, or are doing enough.
Friend, it is hard for faith to help with the overload of your life, when the lack of faith may actually be part of the problem. Read the words of Colossians 1:9-11: “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy...” This is who the Christian is, not what they talk about being. He/she is “filled with the knowledge...spiritual wisdom...understanding” (vv. 9) and walk that way (v. 10) unto what pleases God. The results of one who abides faithfully is strength, power, might, patience, endurance with joy. Let us make sure we as Christians are clear as to whom we are. If we do, the spiritual frustration will lessen and the spiritual strength will increase.
One matter we must remove. Our overload is most often tied to our dependence upon the world. When you read Colossians 2:20-23, we who have “died with Christ” need not linger so much with the world. We side more with what we need from the world rather than what we need from God. When we use all the world’s tools and follow its patterns, they become more attractive and “useful” to us than what God offers as “spiritual blessings in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
The more we find and use the tools of the world, the more we seek the world’s approval. It is the world’s tools which guide us. These tools become a part of our busyness. They become to be a part of our “overload.” Rather than achieving any sense of peace, calm, wisdom, or understanding, the pressures increase and our spirituality dwindles. It is important to know, we cannot conquer the world with the world.
Let us remember the words of Matthew 11:28-30 at this point: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, an 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.” More later...
