I remember when I was a little girl and still living in the city, being
fascinated with the wooden toy truck my father had made for my younger
brother. To me it was a very large truck, in fact I tried it for size and I
could sit in the tray!
We were about to shift to a place in the country, and the truck was for my
brother to use in “construction sites””, for carrying dirt and other such
things. As my father pointed out very strongly to my sister and I, it
wasn’t built to carry people and we were to keep off it.
Well, not far from our house was a hilly street, which was very good for
going down on a scooter, so why not on a toy truck? I seem to remember
having a few words with my sister on whether it should be done or not, but I
maintained that what my father didn’t see, wouldn’t hurt him. I duly sat
in the back of the truck at the top of the hill, lifted my feet, and wow,
could it go! My father was obviously wrong!
It did go, until I went over a bump, and then my father was proved correct.
My brother’s brand new truck looked a sorry sight with its broken
dowelling axle and scraped paintwork. There is a reason that Scripture
declares, “Be sure your sins will find you out.”
I was thinking about that truck this morning when I read in Gal. 6:2,
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of
Christ.” When I read v. 5 though, it said, “For each one should carry his
own load.” Wasn’t that a contradiction?
The dictionary tells me that a burden is an “oppressively heavy load”.
We are built to stand “loads”. Muscles that bear no weight or load soon
grow weak. We wouldn’t grow emotionally or spiritually if we didn’t have
tough times to deal with occasionally.
Christ said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me…and you will find
rest.” (Matt. 11:29). He will help us bear the every day load.
When a load becomes oppressive, when it is more than someone is meant to
bear, then we are instructed to give them a helping hand, or a listening
ear, otherwise they might break down.
As my father was able to fix the truck I broke, so are we, with the Lord?s
strength and guidance, able to help “fix” hurting people by bearing their
oppressive load with them. We are to be Christ for them.
Today, someone who is needy will walk across your path, and God’s Word to
you is, “Be ready to give, to help, to love.”
Copyright Cynthia Rowse 2000
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