Breaking the Burden of Being BetterSample

The Burden of Being Better

Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

The Apostle Paul warns against the "yoke of slavery," referring to the mindset that we must earn salvation through our efforts. This is a performance burden that leads to anxiety, comparison, exhaustion and failure because it is impossible to earn our salvation.

Any time performance is linked to trying to earn something, like our salvation or value, it will become a burden.

Many people live under the weight of trying to be "better"—better Christians, better parents, better employees. But when our worth is tied to performance, we become trapped in a burden that Christ never intended us to carry—a burden that yokes us to the slavery of performance.

The burden of trying to be better will also produce fruit such as competitiveness and comparison, as others threaten our performance results. It will produce criticism and anxiety as others judge our performances, especially when we are seen as a threat to their value. It will produce fear and weariness, as the standard is impossible to achieve. The worst fruit of all is the fruit of distraction. When we are so busy trying to strive, we can miss the Savior who is calling us to a life of Freedom.

Take a moment to reflect: In what areas of your life are you striving for worth? How can you surrender that burden to Jesus today?

Prayer

Lord, help me to release the pressure to prove my worth. Remind me that my value comes from You, not from my performance. Teach me to stand firm in Your freedom. Amen.