We all know what it is to be weighed down with burdens of one kind or another. One that is common to all of us is ...

THE BURDEN OF SINFULNESS

David draws this graphic picture of the heaviness he felt as the burden of his sins pressed down on him.

   My guilt overwhelms me. It is a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins. I am bent over and racked with pain. My days are filled with grief. A raging fever burns within me, and my health is broken. I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart. (Psalm 38:4-8)

John Bunyan, writing his story of The Pilgrim's Progress way back in the 17th century AD, begins his allegory with the vision of a pilgrim weighed down with a heavy burden on his back. The burden, as we discover as the story proceeds, is the burden of the person's sinfulness. Bunyan writes ...

   As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where there was a den, and laid me down to sleep. And, as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed, and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden on his back. I looked, and saw him open the book, and read therein. And, as he read, he wept and trembled. And not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying, "What must I do to be saved."¹

But, as we shall see when we read more of Bunyan's allegory, there is a way for us to get rid of the burden. Christ has shouldered it for us in his sacrificial death on the cross. Isaiah described that way when he wrote of the coming of the Messiah ...

   He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised and we did not care.
   Yet it was our weaknesses he carried. It was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like lost sheep. We have left God's path to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt of us all. (Isaiah 53:3-6)

Peter explains further ...

   He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds! Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have returned to your shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. (1 Peter 2:24-25)

In his allegory Bunyan sees the Pilgrim setting out on his search for a way to get rid of his burden of sin. He does not have to go far before he comes to the cross. It is there that his burden is lifted from him. Bunyan² continues the story ...  Now I saw

   Now I saw in my dream that the highway up which Christian was to go was fenced on either side with a wall, and that wall is called salvation. Up this way therefore did burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back.
   He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending, and upon that place stood a Cross, and a little below in the bottom, a sepulchre. So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up with the Cross his burden loosed from off his back.
   Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, 'He hath given me rest by his sorrow and life by his death.' Then he stood still a while, to look and wonder, for it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the Cross should thus ease him of his burden.
   Then Christian gave three leaps for joy and went on, singing ...

Thus far did I come loaded with my sin
Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in
Till I came hither. What a place is this!
Must here be the beginning of my bliss?
Must here the burden fall from off my back?
Must here the strings that bound it to me crack?
Blest Cross! Blest Sepulchre! Blest rather be
The Man that there was put to shame for me.

And then for many as they continue on in their spiritual pilgrimage there is ...

THE BURDENS ASSOCIATED WITH LEADERSHIP

Moses felt the demands of leadership weighing heavily on him after only a few months into the journey to a new land after the people's deliverance from the oppression of their lives in Egypt. He found himself trying to deal with one complaint after another as they moved on from place to place on top of all his other responsibilities. The answer for Moses came in the advice given him by his father-in-law, who suggested that he delegate some of his responsibilities to others.

   When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "Why are you trying to do all this alone? The people have been standing here all day to get your help."
   Moses replied, "Well, the people come to me to seek God's guidance. When an argument arises, I am the one who settles the case. I inform the people of God's decisions and teach them his laws and instructions."
   "This is not good!" his father-in-law exclaimed. "You're going to wear yourself out, and the people too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now let me give you a word of advice and may God be with you. You should continue to be God's representative before God, bringing him their questions to be decided. You should tell them God's decisions, teach them God's laws and instructions, and show them how to conduct their lives. But find some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as judges over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. These men can serve the people, resolving all the ordinary cases. Anything that is too important or too complicated can be brought to you. But they can take care of the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making it easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God directs you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace."
   Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and followed his suggestions. He chose capable men from all over Israel and made them judges over the people. They were put in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. These men were constantly available to administer justice. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but they judged the smaller matters themselves. (Exodus 18:14-25)

Paul also felt the pressures associated with leadership. After writing of the many hardships he had endured in the course of his ministry he adds ...

   Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of how the churches are getting along. (2 Corinthians 11:28)

There is however, help promised. Firstly from the presence of the Lord in the person of the Holy Spirit. In his last talk with his disciples Jesus promised that they would not be abandoned but that he would remain at their side in the person of the Holy Spirit. The word Jesus used, translated here as 'Counselor,' is παρακλητοs ' (paraklētos), a word referring to 'a person called alongside to help.' Jesus said to the disciples then, as he says to us today ...

   "If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognise him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you." (John 14:15-18)

Paul also received help from fellow workers. While some deserted him others  supported him in his ministry, like Mark and those he mentions when writing to encourage the young pastor Timothy.

   Please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers ...
   Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living at the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed at Corinth and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. Hurry so you can get here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.
   May the Lord be with you and your spirit. Grace be with you all. (2 Timothy 4:9-13, 19-22)

Other of life's cares and troubles that can weigh heavily on us are these ...

THE SORROW OVER A FOOLISH SON

Solomon writes ...

   A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother. (Proverbs 10:2 NIV)

Worried mother? Take courage from the story Jesus told about a wayward son. The parents prayed and waited. What joy replaced the grief as the boy appeared over the hills on his way home.

   When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, "At home even the hired men have food enough to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, 'Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired man.' "
   So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son."
   But his father said to the servants, "Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found." So the party began. (Luke 15:17-24)

A STRUGGLE TO 'PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE'

Nehemiah  tells us of a time when the people of Israel were doing it tough. They had returned to their homeland after the years of captivity in Babylon. They were working hard at rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. But times were hard. There was a famine in the land. Some were being exploited by others of their countrymen. The struggle to survive was pressing heavily upon them. Nehemiah tells how he provided help from his own resources.

   Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers. Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are numerous. In order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain."
   Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine."
   Still others were saying , "We have had to borrow money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards. Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others."
   ... the earlier governors, those preceding me, placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work. We did not acquire any land.
   Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor because the demands were heavy on these people. (Nehemiah 5:1-5, 15-18 NIV)

Finding that 'making ends meet' has become a heavy weight on your shoulders? Be encouraged by the words of Jesus ...

   "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life, whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.
   And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!
   So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows our needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:25-34)

THE BURDENS IMPOSED BY A RELIGIOUS SYSTEM

Jesus spoke of the demands made by the religious leaders of his day.

   Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the Scriptures. So practice and obey whatever they say to you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach. They crush you with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to help ease the burden. Everything they do is for show." (Matthew 23:1-5a)

For all who may be feeling weighed down under the heavy weight of the demands being made of them by some modern day religious system, Jesus gives the same invitation as he did to the people then ...

      Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly and the burden I give you is light." (Matthew 11:28)

Jesus' teaching does not come with heavy demands. In his service, the yoke on the shoulders does not irritate because it fits properly.

LOOK TO THE LORD FOR HELP

Don't let the burden weigh you down any longer. Follow the advice of David the king ...

    Give your burdens to the LORD and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. (Psalm 55:22)

And the advice of Peter the businessman. As a person involved in the fish exporting business, Peter would have known what it was like to experience the worries and pressures that come from the world of business for example.

      So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)