MinistrySample

The limits of love

We rightly realise that serving God and others is an expression of our love for God and others. And then we rightly realise that such ministry is important – it is high priority. We can then go on to take so much onto our shoulders that we become overburdened, which is not how Jesus seems to envisage ministry. He speaks of an easy yoke and a light burden.

Ministry becomes a burdensome chore if we are not doing what Jesus calls us to do and if we are not depending on His empowering. The image of a yoke is that of a wooden cradle across the shoulders of an ox. If the beast went the way the driver wanted it to go, the yoke would rest easily. Only when the ox strived to do its own thing would the yoke be uncomfortable.

Burdens arise out of our tendency to take onto ourselves things that can better be left. Some have over-sensitive consciences that cause them to take on too much. God doesn’t lay burdens on us too great for us to bear with His help. We ourselves may weigh ourselves down and yet persist in believing that it is all about ministry.

There is certainly effort required, and there is certainly suffering and sacrifice involved in service of God and others. But we need not make it worse for ourselves. After all, only God has the whole world in His hands.

Written by DAVID REAY