Burdens
Q: As a Christian I know that I have a burden to help others as a means to fulfill the law, but what does it mean for every man shall bear his own burden?
A: You are making reference to the instructions found in Galatians 5:2 and 5. It is important to point out that when the Bible speaks of burdens, they fall into three categories. The first burden that I want to distinguish is found in Matthew 11:29 and 30. Jesus tells us this burden is light because He enables us to carry it. When you look “burden” up in this text it has to do with task or service. The Scripture clearly outlines what our task and service is in the kingdom of God.
There are two reasons for this type of burden to prove to be light. The first reason is because God is the one who put the burden on us, which means He will also empower us to carry it to fruition. The second reason it will prove to be light is because the love of God is being shed abroad in our hearts. Godly love is sacrificial; therefore, it sees any godly service as being the least that can be done. Such service is referred to as “reasonable service.”
The second type of burden is that which entails personal obligations or responsibilities. These are responsibilities that solely belong to the individual whether it is family, work, or financial responsibilities. These responsibilities often surround personal goals, lifestyles, and commitments. No one else is responsible for these obligations except the individual who through word, contract, or agreements has bound themself to see these obligations through to their fruition. These are the burdens that Galatians 6:5 makes reference to, “For every man shall bear his own burden.” The Apostle Paul clarifies this even more so, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should they eat…with quietness they work, and eat their own bread (2 Thessalonians 3:10, 12), and “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8).
The problem is that we live in an entitlement society. This is where the past couple of generations that are coming up through the ranks believe that it is up to everyone else to pay for the type of lifestyle they have been told by the liberal, progressive, communistic educational gurus that they rightfully deserve. They do no realize that they are being enslaved into an ideology that has proven to be a miserable failure from the beginning. Sadly, the burden of such vanity is put on the backs of a few who cannot sustain the masses. The reason for this shift is to break the necks of those who think outside of the box, subdue any rational challenge, and rob people of any individualism in order to usher in a one-world government. The people who operate in this mentality are not only unrealistic, but they are ultimately being conditioned to sell their souls to the world for its bread.
The final burden has to do with weights placed on others that are too great to bear. Usually widows and the fatherless are associated to these types of burdens. These burdens also entail causing undue distress on those who are becoming victims to circumstances beyond their control. These are the people who are being crushed by situations or the systems of the world.
Tragically, due to the different economic collapses taking place, people are finding themselves being steamrolled by the events that are creating a frightening momentum. The truth is every economy of the world has been connected in order to ensure that if one country’s economy falls, so will the rest of the world. As a result, many are becoming victims of lifestyles that set them up to fall, along with the rest of the world’s dominos that are beginning to already collapse.
We are truly living in the last of the end days. It is exciting to see prophesy fulfilled, but it is to remind us that we must prepare ourselves spiritually. In these times, Christians must be willing to come under the yoke that is being fashioned by the times we live in. We must be ready to carry the burden of the Gospel of peace, and possibly taste the sting of persecution as others try to rein us in with oppressive policies. We must be faithful to occupy where we can, stand for truth when challenged, and let go of that which could easily entangle us into the affairs of this world. We must choose our battles wisely, accept only the burdens that we have been entrusted with, and beware of getting caught up with vain causes that are void of any eternal mark to ensure we redeem the days we live in.