Releasing Your Burdens

Introduction

I heard a story of a snow storm that dropped a very wet and heavy six inch snow. The effects of the snow storm could be seen along a major highway.

Next to this highway stood several large groves of tall, young pine trees. The branches were bowed down with the heavy snow–so low that branches from one tree were often leaning against the trunk or branches of another.

Where trees stood alone, however, the effect of the heavy snow was different. The branches had become heavier, but without other trees to lean against, the branches snapped. Left to lay on the ground, dark and alone in the cold snow.

When we are alone we have nothing to support us or help us. We need to be standing close with other Christians, because the closer we stand with them, the more we will be able to hold.

Isn’t this the truth.

When we try and do things alone don’t we suffer.

We may not “break” as these branches in this story did, but we do break.

We cannot hold up to the stress of doing it alone.

We need community and help to stand.

We need someone to help bear the burden.

Things will happen that bring extreme stress.

Sometimes we produce the stress by trying to do too much.

We think we can handle it alone.

We have been told to make your own way.

Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.

You, you, you, I, I, I can do this.

Independence is the key.

I am better doing this alone.

At least I know what I am doing.

When we do this we suppress the truth of our burden.

This leads to us falling and wearing out and wearing out others.

In the text of we see this burden bearing.

We also see that this should not be done alone.

Let us look to the text.

English Standard Version Chapter 18

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because zthe people come to me to inquire of God; 16 awhen they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I bmake them know the statutes of God and his laws.”

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening.

14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?”

English Standard Version Chapter 18

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because zthe people come to me to inquire of God; 16 awhen they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I bmake them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. cYou are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall drepresent the people before God and ebring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know fthe way in which they must walk and gwhat they must do. 21 Moreover, look for hable men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And ilet them judge the people at all times. jEvery great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will kbear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be lable to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 mMoses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And nthey judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and ohe went away to his own country.

English Standard Version Chapter 18

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because zthe people come to me to inquire of God; 16 awhen they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I bmake them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. cYou are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall drepresent the people before God and ebring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know fthe way in which they must walk and gwhat they must do. 21 Moreover, look for hable men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And ilet them judge the people at all times. jEvery great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will kbear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be lable to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 mMoses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And nthey judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and ohe went away to his own country.

15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God;

16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.”

17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

English Standard Version Chapter 18

17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. cYou are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall drepresent the people before God and ebring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know fthe way in which they must walk and gwhat they must do. 21 Moreover, look for hable men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And ilet them judge the people at all times. jEvery great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will kbear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be lable to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 mMoses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And nthey judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and ohe went away to his own country.

18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.

19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God,

20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.

21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.

23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.

25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves.

27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country.

We see in this text that Moses was judging alone. No help, just alone.

If you can relate to going it alone then you need to:

Recognize You Have Burdens

Moses was judging alone.

He was doing everything.

He knew it needed to be done.

He was God’s commissioned leader for the people, so it was his job.

He was doing what he thought was right.

He was bearing this burden alone.

When asked why he sat alone Moses said because the people came to him to inquire of God (V. 15).

Jethro noticed the burden Moses was bearing.

Moses also knew it but did not recognize it.

He knew it was quite a lot to handle…But he could handle it.

Moses was hung up in the fact that it had to be done that he missed something.

The people came to Him to inquire of God.

He was the advocate.

He was the trusted guy.

He could have set others as the guy to inquire too.

He could have still been the man that inquired of God, but he kept doing the job.

Why?

Pride?

Liked the authority?

Liked the authority?

Or, allowed himself to become so swamped with the work that he did not think of it?

I think it is the last question.

He was too busy.

He was just going and doing because he had too.

He was carrying it all alone.

Maybe you are that way.

Maybe you have some burdens you are carrying around.

Maybe this is work and life, or maybe you are holding onto some things that you need no hold.

You may be doing this because you do not think you can release them.

You can. You do not have to continue as you are.

No matter why you are holding onto the burden and not recognizing it as a burden you can let it go.

If you don’t it can be very dangerous.

Why?

When you burden yourself with too much, you segregate yourself.

This is seen when the text says that Moses was sitting alone judging.

He was alone. No one to help. Just him.

We were not created to go it alone.

We were meant to be as the pine trees in the groves were, have someone to lean on.

God did not make us to be segregated.

There was only one thing that God said was not good in creation.

This was, “It is not good that man should be alone” ().

It is not good to be alone.

When you carry your burdens and think you can handle them yourself, you have made your self alone.

This alone can even be amongst many people.

Moses was alone amongst people.

So are you if you are carrying this burden alone.

Are you doing this?

Have you taken the full load of life, family, past hurts, struggles, pain, anger, horses, lust, addiction, whatever it may be alone?

If you are then recognize this and then

Do Not Try to Handle Burdens Alone

We see Jethro give Moses wise counsel in verses 17-23.

Jethro speaks truth to Moses.

He tells him that “what he is doing is not good.” (v.17).

It was not good. He was causing himself grief and he was causing the people grief.

Jethro was blunt and to the point.

Trying to do everything alone, or trying to bear your burdens alone, will do nothing but exhaust you and those around you.

It does nothing but cause bitterness, problems, divisions, anger, strife, and eventually hatred.

“We must be careful not to allow work, life, struggles, or anything, no matter how demanding, to occupy so much of our time that our well-being and relationships suffer as a result.”

This is exactly what Jethro was telling Moses.

This is what the word of God is telling you.

As Jethro said it is too heavy for you.

The heaviness is too much.

You will be crushed under it.

But not only you but those around you who do depend on you.

Those who love you.

They will be crushed too.

Everyone suffers.

This is what going it alone can do. It can be a very bad thing.

We must do as Jethro tells Moses, find some trusted and capable help.

Reach out.

Do not try to go it alone.

Remember we were not meant to be alone but in community.

Burdens are too much to bear alone.

Whether they be work or personal, they are too much.

Do as Moses did, seek out solid support.

When alone you will fall.

You will fail.

You will become lost in the world.

The things of this world will wear you down.

You will not be able to bear it.

You will seek to give up and quit.

You will burn out.

You will do something that you would have never dreamt you would do.

Do not try to bear your burdens alone.

As a runner approaches a marathon you must approach life.

It is not a sprint. If we are to endure to the end, we must not overload ourselves.

When you try and tend to all things alone you overload yourself.

You will not endure, you will break as a runner who approaches a marathon as a sprint, the runner will break and so will you.

Your burdens you carry will drag you down.

You will not finish the race well.

You will fall out.

Go down before crossing the line.

Life will become a prison sentence.

Life will eat at you rather than be something joyful.

You will become bitter and hateful.

Even if you are thinking it is my burden.

Yes it has me drained and down, but it is my problem.

I may be at the end of my rope and lost, but it is my problem.

I am worn out and those around me are fed up, but it is my problem.

All seems to be coming unraveled, but it is my problem.

Heed the counsel of Jethro, do not go it alone.

You can’t do it alone.

You will fall and fail.

It will all unravel and you will go somewhere and do something or become something you never dreamt you could do or would do.

Please do not let that happen.

You do have someone who can help you.

It is He who can bear your burdens.

Jesus Christ: Your Burden Bearer

Just as Moses did as Jethro said and found able men to help him (vv. 24-27) you can do the same.

Yes, find good solid Christian people who “fear God, are trustworthy, and hate deception.”

These will definitely be able to help you.

They will guide you according to God’s word.

They will help you bear the burden you carry.

They will stop your being alone.

They can help you.

This is all they can do: help.

They cannot remove the burden.

They cannot lift the burden.

They cannot lighten the burden.

They cannot straighten out the mess.

There is only one who can do this.

This is Jesus.

He has said:

English Standard Version Chapter 11

28 pCome to qme, all who labor and are rheavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and slearn from me, for I am tgentle and lowly in heart, and uyou will find rest for your souls. 30 For vmy yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus is saying that you will find rest in Him.

You will not have to carry your heavy burden.

He will take your burden and lay His yoke upon you.

His yoke is easy and the burden is light.

This is giving everything to Christ and trusting in Him.

He is your burden bearer.

He came and died for you and took the punishment we deserve.

He took the greatest burden for you.

He took the severe punishment that is due to us.

Yet, He is offering to take whatever it is that is your burden.

He offers to take that and give you a light yoke. He is taking all the stress.

People are good to have.

It is good to be surrounded by people who are of good character and can help you.

This is good, but people can only do so much to help you.

Jesus can do it all to help you.

We can only find true peace through Jesus.

Everything else will let us down, including ourselves, especially ourselves.

People can be great aids for our downcast souls. So surround yourself with God fearing Christ believing people.

They can jerk you back into place if you get prideful or lift your spirit if you get down.

But place all your faith in Jesus as He can, and will lift you up.

Conclusion

Today I am as Jethro was. I plead with you to not go it alone.

When alone we will hide and pretend.

We will become overwhelmed and depressed, bitter, angry, weary, and worn down by the weight of the load.

So, please do not bear burdens you were not meant to bear.

When you do you become defeated in life.

A defeated life is not the life that God wants for us.

No, Jesus said that He came to give you life and that you may have it abundantly ().

Defeat is not an abundant life. No, defeat is what the first half of says: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

That is a defeated life. That is the life that Satan wants you to live in.

Satan wants you to bear burdens you were not meant to bear.

He wants you to become bitter and withdrawn.

He wants you defeated. He wants you to hate that you were created.

He wants you to eventually blame God for the grief you have.

And you will eventually place the blame on God if you try to bear your burdens alone.

Recognize that you have burdens, do not try to bear your burdens alone, but give them to your ultimate burden bearer: Jesus.

If you want to do this but you are not one of Christ’s it is an easy thing to become one of His.

Jesus came and died for you, he did not stay dead he rose from the dead. Through this Jesus has completed all that is necessary for you. He has done all the work needed. He is offering you eternal life right now, all you must do is believe in Him for eternal life and you will be saved.

When you do this you will receive the greatest helper of all: The Holy Spirit.

He is the great comforter, and He comes and indwells you.

This means that God indwells you. You have God in you.

You have a direct connection to your great burden bearer.

Please do not try to go it alone, the weight will be too much for you.

Do not try and be a lone ranger, but believe upon Jesus today and give Him your burdens. He will take them and guide you in a way that you can find joy in life.

Do not be crushed in Burdens, but give them to Jesus and trust in Him for His guidance in your life.