Ministry in some people’s mind is the guy on the stage who communicates precious insights and powerful challenges. But while that is a part of ministry it is only the skin of the real thing. I have seen many of those skins who were full of empty air rather that substance and values. The minister has, maybe one of the toughest task of any profession: ministry to people!
Ministry to people is to mingle among them and feel the weight that people carry. The ministers danger is that with each touch he is weighed down more. Like the man who walks through a muddy field and finds his feet heavier and his strength not adequate to go very far for the weight.
He cannot sit with the man who is dying with cancer and look into those eyes that know time is short and impending death is near and not be weighed with the pain of it all. He cannot look into the tired eyes of the caregivers and not feel their heaviness. They who are giving their time, finances and even health to comfort their love ones are bleeding pain.
No minister can sit with the widow and listen to her stories and not be moved by her loss. Behind the eyes and beyond the courageous smiles there is heaviness. The minister can listen, emphasize and yet know that none of this changes their burden.
The minister that hears the struggles of friends who quarrel with each other and knows that each party bears some blame. Knowing that the end result will be workers of the kingdom to be demolition workers of darkness. The weight of the anger, pride and resentment is like a stone that can only sink all of them. But the minister will carry with him some of the weight of those he loves despite their error.
The minister cannot look at the elderly and not be moved by the weight of failing health and changes that keep them confused and lost. To look into the furrowed brows, thinned hairlines and bent bodies their weight and burden is so visible. The minister will leave their presence with not their weight but his own burden of inadequacy.
The minister does not look for a closet to hide until he walks on the stage. His call is to bind up the hurting, ease the pain, release the prisoner, soothe the bruised, counsel the confused and advocate for the poor. His is to carry all that weight to the cross. Only Christ can carry our weight and our burdens. We must care but we must care enough to take it to the Lord!
The song, ” Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave it There” is now the motto of the minister who is weighed and burdened.
Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave it There
1 If the world from you withhold of its silver and gold,
And you have to get along with meager fare,
Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird –
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Refrain:
Leave it there, leave it there,
leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there;
If you trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
2 If your body suffers pain and your health you can’t regain,
And your soul is almost sinking in despair,
Jesus knows the pain you feel, He can save and He can heal –
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. [Refrain]
3 When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,
Don’t forget that God in heaven answers prayer;
He will make a way for you, and will lead you safely through –
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. [Refrain]
4 When your youthful days are gone, and old age is stealing on.
And your body bends beneath the weight of care;
He will never leave you then, He’ll go with you to the end –
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. [Refrain]
Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
