BURDEN BEARERS

 

It is a long time since I was able to carry even the lightest burden on my shoulder, but thank God I am still able to be a burden bearer for him.

Jesus said, ‘Come to me, you who are burdened and heavy laden.’ He doesn’t tell us that he will take our burdens away, but that he will give us grace, strength, and perseverance too, to carry them, together with him.

He goes on to say, ‘Take my yoke upon you.’ Yes, together, he says, we will carry heavy loads.

The high priest of the Old Testament gives us a beautiful picture of burden bearing. He has chains running over his shoulders to enable him to carry the breastplate which covers his heart. I’m sure it was heavy, for it was of gold and it had these twelve precious stones set into it. Symbolically he was carrying the burden of the twelve tribes of Israel into God’s presence. (You will find this in Exodus 28: 15 – 30)

We may often feel burdened for family or friends and sometimes distant peoples who are suffering grievously. What can we do to help? Surely we are not meant to be drained emotionally, remaining helpless.

God has comforted me by this picture of the high priest. We can take these needy ones

as precious jewels and carry them on our hearts. Yes, sometimes they are heavy and we feel weighed down, but I remember the elderly preacher who, burdened by the message God had laid on his heart, told us, ‘When God lays a burden on us, it is a gracious gentle burden.’

I’m sure the High Priest never complained at the weight of the breastplate, so may we too count it a privilege to carry these burdens right into the presence of the One who describes himself as ‘gentle and lowly of heart.’ He is tender hearted and hears the faintest cry. And remember we are yoked together with him.