Question 1

In what ways can responsibilities be burdens?

Accepted Answer

Numbers 11:11Moses said to the Lord, “Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people?”As a leader, Moses keenly felt the weight of responsibility for the people of Israel. That burden caused him to cry out to God with a touch of self-pity. Sooner or later, real responsibilities for others chafe and weigh us down. Then, as always, we should take those burdens to the Lord, as Moses did.Deuteronomy 1:9-13Moses continued, “At that time I told you, ‘You are too great a burden for me to carry all by myself. The Lord your God has increased your population, making you as numerous as the stars! And may the Lord, the God of your ancestors, multiply you a thousand times more and bless you as he promised! But you are such a heavy load to carry! How can I deal with all your problems and bickering? Choose some well-respected men from each tribe who are known for their wisdom and understanding, and I will appoint them as your leaders.’”The larger a responsibility becomes, the more burdensome it grows—and the more necessary it becomes to find ways to share the weight. Moses was overwhelmed he tried to govern an exploding population. He delegated some of the burden to others whom he directed the people to choose.Hebrews 13:17Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.Leadership in the church becomes a burden when those you lead are divided, resistant, and uncooperative. Part of the responsibility God gives church members is to support and pray for their leaders. Ultimately these things work to the members’ advantage.

Question 2

How can burdens be relieved?

Accepted Answer

Nehemiah 5:15The former governors . . . had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way.Nehemiah refused to exploit the authority he had been given, realizing that the people would be harmed by unfair taxes and demands. These were crushing weights. He knew God expected him to treat his people justly.Psalm 38:4My guilt overwhelms me—it is a burden too heavy to bear.When we are guilty, we often feel the reality of our sin as a heavy weight. Repentance and confession lighten the burden immediately.Proverbs 27:3A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier.Anger weighs on both the person who feels it and the person who receives it. This is even truer when the anger is unjustified. If reconciliation with an unreasonable person is impossible, don’t be overly burdened by his or her anger.Ecclesiastes 3:10-11I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.Human life is filled with many physical, emotional, and spiritual burdens. These burdens should lead us toward our Creator, who desires a relationship with us and has placed a longing for him in our hearts.Luke 11:46-47“Yes,” said Jesus, “what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with impossible religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden. What sorrow awaits you!”Legalistic people find it easy to demand strict adherence to rules while exempting themselves from the same rules and failing to offer help to those they have burdened. Jesus pointed out that God will eventually settle that injustice.2 Corinthians 11:9When I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be.Paul knew the difference between accepting generosity and hospitality from others on the one hand and becoming a burden to them on the other. He didn’t demand help from those he had helped, and he was always deeply grateful when they were moved to help him.1 Timothy 5:16If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone.In a society that had little use for widows, the early church shone with its caring ministry. But believers were also taught that family relationships mattered. Paul taught that as much as possible, families should be the first line of help in bearing the burden of the aged, infirm, orphans, and widows.

Burdens