4:28 – Sharing The Load

#faithbites #faithjourney load

Setting

Sometimes I can be passionate and territorial. I know how I want things to go and feel that I need to do it myself. I may not be passionate about it, but if I don’t do it, will someone else get the satisfaction? Or will it even get done right at all?

I’m 43 years old and learning everyday. Just this week, I forced myself to give a few tasks to one of my colleagues. Could I do it myself? Yes. Did I have to do it myself? No. It was hard as I thought what value do I play if I’m not doing this paperwork. The value I provide is the deep conversations with the faculty, not the filling of paperwork. This was a challenge for me as conversation isn’t physical, it’s not an object whereas completing paperwork is. In other words, our work looks different, which requires different skills and awareness when sharing the load.

Are you have to delegate meaningful work to others? What stops you from delegating? Knowing the answers to these questions will help us move forward and engage others more deeply.

Scripture

• Galatians 6:2 – Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
• Matthew 11:28-30 – ²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Reflection

What load is holding you down or back? The crux of our verses is that we need to bear each others burdens and Christ bears ours. His load is light and easy to bear. This is what we should be working towards. We need to see each other as a servant of Christ. If they can bear our load and us there’s aren’t we being more Christ like?

This is another easier said than done. While it is nice to get help, the green eyed monster of jealousy rears it’s ugly head. Are we going to get less credit because we had help? Is someone going to take my idea and I loose ownership? While these are real concerns, the question we should be asking is this, “Why am I worried about credit?” If we believe that Jesus is the only way, what we get credit for here shouldn’t matter.

As we close, let’s challenge ourselves to delegate work to others. This can provide advancement and fulfilment opportunities for them. At the same time, let us see how we can perform other service if our burden is lessened.

Prayer

Dear God, we feel like we have so much to do and so much to prove. Help us to do two things. First, remind us that we have nothing to prove. You have selected us and bathe us in your love. Second, help us rely on others to share our burdens. We don’t have to do everything ourselves.

Lord, nothing is impossible with you. We need you to help us remember always that you are the one who gets things done. You want us to succeed and will put people in our lives to help us. We pray that you remove any guilt we feel in asking for help. Pave the way for us to share the load, divide the burden, and rely on our brothers and sisters. We pray all of this in your name, Amen.