How do you choose between two seemingly equal options? You have weighed both of their outcomes, and neither one seems much better—or worse—than the other. From our finite perspective, we can’t do any better than guess at the ramifications of our choices within a very limited scope. And yet, we are aware from our teachings that every single action and choice we make has consequences to eternity. How much more difficult are these decisions when we know that no matter the choice we make, somebody is going to be hurt as a result of our actions. The burden is immense.
Burdens in the Lord’s Word are aptly compared to the burdens and yokes born by beasts of burden. It seems that we have no choice in bearing a burden in this world. The choice lies in which burden we bear. The Lord invites us to carry the yoke that He would give us, and He promises us that His yoke is easy and His burden light.
What is the Lord’s burden? Well, first of all, this is what the Lord’s burden is not: His burden is not the weight of eternity; His burden is not the pressure of how the world will react to our actions; His burden is not anything that is outside of our control. He asks us to carry none of this. It’s ok to put it down and walk away. We were never meant to bear that burden.
And this is what the Lord’s burden is: His burden is to spiritually work six days a week, doing the best we can with what we’ve got. His burden is also to take a Sabbath to remember that the Lord our God is really in control. His burden is the Ten Commandments and the Two Great Commandments, which ask us to get our supersized concern for ourselves and the world out of the way so that the Lord’s love can work through us.
What are you carrying that the Lord wouldn’t ask you to? What self-inflicted expectations of finite omnipotence have you taken on—powers which you have no business assuming? What are some concerns that could use a Sabbath Day? In taking on the easy yoke of the Lord, we are given this invitation: “Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you.” (Psalm 55:22)