Articles
A Light Burden
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“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11:27-28)
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (1 Jn. 5:3)
"For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." (Matt. 23:4)
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Life by any definition is a struggle. We live in a world that seems designed to disappoint, and the toil and trouble that is required merely to survive can be a crushing burden.
Religion is humanity's attempt to mitigate this experience. Whatever the teachings and rules and rituals, the goal of every faith system is always the same: to provide a meaningful framework by which we can cope with the great struggles of human existence. Even if we deny any external deity and worship only ourselves, the goal is still the same: how can we find purpose and strength in life?
Unfortunately, most religious systems make the problem worse, not better. The rhetoric may be lofty, but the philosophical underpinnings are often flawed and the practical effects misguided, even dangerous. There is a reason that religion today has a reputation as being the source of most of the world's problems.
Even the religion of the Bible is not immune to this risk. In the hands of leaders like the scribes and Pharisees, God's instructions can be turned into a millstone that further grinds people into the ground, rather than helping them.
Authentic Christianity--not the cheap dime-store variety--is not a hardship, but a blessing. Studying the Bible, especially the words of Jesus and His apostles unadulterated by human traditions, is not only a simple exercise, it resonates beautifully with the human heart. It calms the troubled spirit and nourishes the soul. It instills a hope that enables us to take on life with optimism and confidence.
Every one of us must bear some burden in life. The question is, which burden will we choose to carry? Jesus offers a yoke that is "easy" and "light." But finding that light burden requires the courage to shove aside all the baggage that men try to pile on top of it. Study the words of Jesus; allow the meaning of His life, death, and resurrection to penetrate your heart; open your life to His influence--and you will find rest for your soul.
--David
