BEARING BURDENS

There are numerous things we say as if the Bible teaches them--religious cliches that Scripture does not actually teach. One of those is, "God will not put on you more than you can bear." You will not find that in Scripture. In His providence, God allows crushing burdens to come--that is, if we face them in our own resources. His very purpose is to cause us to cast ourselves on Him for strength. Furthermore, it is to teach us as the Body of Christ how much we need each other.

Paul wrote, "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ," (Gal. 6:2). The law of Christ is the law of love. It summarizes all God's commands in love for God with our entire self and love for those made in His image in the same way we care for ourself, (cf. Mark 12:32-33). We have a responsibility to help bear burdens of our brothers and sisters in Christ. They will need it, and at some point we will also.

Having an association of churches, like Haywood Baptist Association gives us an even greater resource for bearing burdens. There is not only the individual church members of one congregation that can help, but a collection of congregations that can aid fellow believers.

Many of our pastors may struggle to find someone in the church they serve with whom they can share their burden. They are often so engaged with ministry themselves that they do not seek ministry. I believe that is one of the ways I can be a blessing in my role here--to be a prayer partner and a burden bearer to our church leaders. Here was a nice "thank you" note I received from Gene Worley, Pastor of Beaverdam:

Our Association was able to encourage Brother Gene because of you supporting me and giving me the opportunity to serve, and sharing financial support so we could donate the Bibles.

Then I think of Pastor Harry Worley coming by my office and sharing his burden that because of his ongoing battle with cancer and now finding out his wife, Cora, has that dreaded disease, he was resigning his church, Emmanuel, effective the end of January. Please pray for them and that church family--they have been through a lot, in particular dealing with the damage from the last flood.

Both our staff members, Diane and Karen had deaths in their family and needed time off to travel and be with their loved ones. Without heistation, we told them to take time off and go. Our prayers went with them. I ask you to lift these ladies up to God's throne of grace. Without what this association provides in communication with you, they would be denied some more burden-bearers to help them.

An old pop song from my teen years by Bill Withers said it, "We all need somebody to lean on." That's true. I need it and so do you.

Your Fellow Burden Bearer,

Dennis Thurman, AMS