Rest for the weary

[Jac3510]

So I'm on a posting spree right now. Ok then. I have a question. Matthew 11:28-30 says this:

• "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (NIV)

What does this mean?

I'm not asking about the theology behind it. I'm doing something I don't think I've ever done before. I'm looking for the devotional value. What does this mean? To you? To me? What is Jesus saying?

[B. W.]

So I'm on a posting spree right now. Ok then. I have a question. Matthew 11:28-30 says this:

• "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (NIV)

What does this mean?

I'm not asking about the theology behind it. I'm doing something I don't think I've ever done before. I'm looking for the devotional value. What does this mean? To you? To me? What is Jesus saying?

Why an example of...

Isaiah 55:11, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." KJV

and...

Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." KJV

Job 37:23, "Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. 24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart." KJV

Compare with the LITV-Job 37:23, "We cannot find Him, the Almighty; He is exalted in power; and He does not violate justice and abundant righteousness."

Ah...and do not forget:

Ezekiel 18:23, "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?" KJV

And note below that we have an example of God stating that human beings can do things on and of their own free volition! We have his word on this matter.

Hosea 8:4, "They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off." KJV

Therefore:

Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." NIV

Is another example of God's word at work — granting choice when there was none before — that's called Grace. All who hear can come but not all will come. The word of God cuts to the heart perfectly revealing it's thoughts and intents. There is none Like God…

Job 37:23, "Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out as his ways are a mystery and He Himself is clothed in enigma: He is excellent in power, and in judgment, and with plenty of justice He will not afflict unjustly - He does not violate justice and abundant righteousness." My paraphrased edit

Truly He is worthy to be praised!

Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." NIV
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[FFC]

So I'm on a posting spree right now. Ok then. I have a question. Matthew 11:28-30 says this:

• "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (NIV)

What does this mean?

I'm not asking about the theology behind it. I'm doing something I don't think I've ever done before. I'm looking for the devotional value. What does this mean? To you? To me? What is Jesus saying?

True spiritual satisfaction comes only in letting Jesus do the works of the kingdom for us, in us , and through us.

[Jac3510]

That is sort of what I mean. What are "the works of the kingdom"? Is it just loving one another?

I see Jesus saying He gives rest to the weary. But rest from what? I assume from their works, but what works? You have someone like me who is on the borderline of burnout. I am exhausted in the actual sense of the word. I'm not tired. I'm not sleepy. I'm exhausted. I'm all used up, so to speak.

I can look at myself and say that when I am weak, He is strong. So we say that we have to let the Strong One work through us. So are we saying He will give us the strength to do it? I can't believe Jesus is saying He gives us just enough gas to go another mile.

I used to understand the passage soteriologically. Stop working for your salvation and just let Jesus do it. But is that what He is saying? I suppose it fits the Jewish background, but is that all He is saying? So the rest offered is of no help to the Christian who can't go any further?

I don't want to sound like I'm complaining. It's not that. There's no doubt in my mind that God is working, whether I see it or not, and that He uses everything--even these kinds of seasons in our lives--to make us more like Him. But I don't want to stand on promises that don't exist. And so the question.

[FFC]

Jac, I think the works of the kingdom are anything we are instructed in God's word to do. Love of course being the umbrella.

It is evident to me that you work hard. The question is whether it is through the spiritual power by God's grace, or by your own willpower. I would strongly suspect the former. I like what Paul said:

1Cr 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

So the question is what mode you are in... the grace mode or the works mode? How do we know the difference? We check our attitudes. I don't need to tell you the story of Mary and Martha do I?

Seriously, it is a very tricky thing sometimes to know which mode we are in, because in the beginning of a works based mode it can give us great satisfaction with ourselves, AKA pride, that we can mistakenly equate with Joy and peace...but keep it up and the disappointment, dissatisfaction, and disgruntled feelings are not far behind.

Just my thoughts for what they are worth.

FFC

[Jac3510]

The reference to 1 Cor 15:10 leads me to a profound thought (at least, it is profound to me! ) . . . you are saying that our labor for Christ can be restful, yes?

I appreciate the kind words and help here. I hope you know that I didn't start this thread, and I'm not asking these questions, to try to play any games. This is an area I am genuinely struggling with right now.

You have definitely given me something worth looking into. My issue is with those feelings of disappointment and such you mentioned. I need to identify their root. Am I working for myself? I haven't thought so. Am I doing it in my own strength? I pray I'm not . . . maybe there is just such a thing as needing a good break even from Jesus' yoke?

I wonder if Paul ever took a vacation or if he ever got a case of burnout, so to speak.

[zoegirl]

I once heard a sermon concerning this passage that talked about how they used to train new oxen to a yoke. They would pair a young ox to an experienced ox in the yoke and the paring would allow the young ox to learn from the older more experienced oxen.

Now I don't remember how they derived this other than using historical ideas of farming, but this illustration stuck with me. I remember the sermon was when I was in high school or college, some 15/20 years ago so I can't remember all of the evidence for it (that long ago? shudder), so obviously it resonated with me. I think it is a beautiful image, being yoked with Christ and learning from Him.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (NIV)

Take His yoke upon us and learn from me. LIve in Him, allow Him to direct and guide your path.

Help?

[FFC]

maybe there is just such a thing as needing a good break even from Jesus' yoke?

Well, I don't think we should ever want a break from that, but what you are going through might not be a spiritual issue...you might just need a break. Even Jesus needed to get away from it all and be alone with God from time to time...and it wasn't because He needed to God up , so to speak... maybe it's how you use your time then that makes all the difference.

[zoegirl]

I don't think that is what the passage is implying, Jac, I agree with FCC.

If you want a good book to help you with burning out and managing time and work, read "Ordering you Private World" by Gordon MacDonald (sp?)

[Jac3510]

Thanks again, guys. I guess the question here is "who are the weary" or phrased differently "what are people weary of"? I lke I said, I used to understand it soteriologically, but I can see that isn't the case. So who is tired of what?

Maybe y'all are right and this has nothing to do with what I'm going through, but I won't know until I can answer the above question. I do think I (we?) are making progress on it, though . . .

[Canuckster1127]

Do you make a distinction between "sacred" work and "secular" work in this regard?

I know a lot of Christian Workers who fall into the trap of believing that their work, because it is for Christ more directly is somehow more important than anyone elses and therefore they approach it with more intensity, more sacrifice of other elements of their lives and fell guilt if that take vacation or down time.

Look to Christ, He spent more time alone in prayer, and with his disciples then he spent ministering to the crowds. Is your work more important than His and your physical and emotional resources greater than His?

Another good book in the arena is Margin by Richard Swenson. http://www.amazon.com/Margin-Restoring- ... 0891098887

[zoegirl]

Thanks again, guys. I guess the question here is "who are the weary" or phrased differently "what are people weary of"? I lke I said, I used to understand it soteriologically, but I can see that isn't the case. So who is tired of what?

Maybe y'all are right and this has nothing to do with what I'm going through, but I won't know until I can answer the above question. I do think I (we?) are making progress on it, though . . .

I doubt it is limited to physical exhaustion, although certainly that would be part or it. I think ecclesiastes would offer a great deal of insight here. It can come off as such a depressing book and yet it speaks volumes of wisdom. Weariness is such a wonderfully all encompassing term. Weary of life, weary of struggle, weary of....work, exertion, frustration, spent, trying to figure things out....trying to find peace...

Christ is indeed our rest from our angst concerning our of our quests for relief in this world. With Him all fits into place...

I think this passage has more to do with easing the burden of our souls than necessarily simply our work/energy. For that you must look, as Caunckster said, to Christ's example.

[Jac3510]

Do you make a distinction between "sacred" work and "secular" work in this regard?

No, and that is sort of the problem. I find it hard to believe that this passage just means that when we get really tired, we just have to "let Christ live through us" in everything we do, sacred or secular. The idea that God keeps me running on JUST ENOUGH gas to make it through the day . . . that doesn't sound like what Jesus is saying here.

I doubt it is limited to physical exhaustion, although certainly that would be part or it. I think ecclesiastes would offer a great deal of insight here. It can come off as such a depressing book and yet it speaks volumes of wisdom. Weariness is such a wonderfully all encompassing term. Weary of life, weary of struggle, weary of....work, exertion, frustration, spent, trying to figure things out....trying to find peace...

Christ is indeed our rest from our angst concerning our of our quests for relief in this world. With Him all fits into place...

I think this passage has more to do with easing the burden of our souls than necessarily simply our work/energy. For that you must look, as Caunckster said, to Christ's example.

I'm a huge fan of Eccl. It's one of my favorite books in the whole Bible. I don't consider it depressing . . . I kind of consider it liberating. Maybe my understanding of it is wrong, too, but I take it this way: "It doesn't matter anyway, so just do what you can do and let God sort out the rest. Just follow Him."

Anyway, what would you consider to eb "the burden of our souls"?

[Canuckster1127]

Well, I know when I've studied the passage in the past, the use of the word "yoke" was described culturally as extending beyong the illustration of an actual oxen yoke per se, and it was using a colloquialism often used in terms of the teaching of the Rabbi's. The contrast then compares the yoke of the law versus the light yoke of Christ.

[zoegirl]

Burden of the souls would for me mean that place in our life where we realize that we need a savior, that angst when we realized er are a sinner. That burden of feeling the need to be saved....

Ecc. shows solomons search for the meaning of life and the realization that many areas of life will not give us that peace that Chirst can give,

Yes, I like that idea of yoke....I wish I could remember the rest of the sermon, because it might have been simply an illustration....