But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.”
—Exodus 5:4
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
—Matthew 11:28-30
And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.”
—Luke 11:46
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
—Hebrews 12:1
It seems obvious to say it, but physical therapy, exercise, and training have future benefits as the goal, not enjoyment in the moment. And a good therapist, coach, or teacher knows the difference between discomfort (or even aching muscles) and the pain of real injury.
The Egyptian taskmasters and Pharaoh regarded the Israelites as "resources" to be exploited, raw materials to be used up. The goal of the relationship was self-interest on the part of the Egyptians; the nature of the relationship was adversarial.
A good therapist regards a client as a person to be helped. The goal of the relationship is the well-being of the client; the nature of the relationship is beneficial. It's also collaborative: the client has to trust the therapist.
The “burdens” demanded by Pharaoh wore the Israelites down, with no relief or rest. Similarly, the “burdens hard to bear” imposed by the teachers of the Law in the time of Jesus had traditions and “commandments of men” that did not come from God.
Life in a world already damaged by evil creates "burdens". But, just as the Lord didn't abandon the Israelites in Egypt to the whims of cruel rulers, the Lord doesn't abandon His children. Jesus came to relieve unnecessary burdens and to restore the most important relationship: that with the Father. He took our burdens on Himself so that we could walk upright with Him.
And the epistles encouraged His followers to put down unnecessary burdens—even the self-imposed ones—that interfere with that walk. And so that we can help and nurture each other.
Burdens
Cast your burden on the Lord,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.
—Psalm 55:22
“I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.”
—Psalm 81:6
But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.”
—Exodus 5:4
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
—Matthew 11:28-30
And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.”
—Luke 11:46
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
—Hebrews 12:1
It seems obvious to say it, but physical therapy, exercise, and training have future benefits as the goal, not enjoyment in the moment. And a good therapist, coach, or teacher knows the difference between discomfort (or even aching muscles) and the pain of real injury.
The Egyptian taskmasters and Pharaoh regarded the Israelites as "resources" to be exploited, raw materials to be used up. The goal of the relationship was self-interest on the part of the Egyptians; the nature of the relationship was adversarial.
A good therapist regards a client as a person to be helped. The goal of the relationship is the well-being of the client; the nature of the relationship is beneficial. It's also collaborative: the client has to trust the therapist.
The “burdens” demanded by Pharaoh wore the Israelites down, with no relief or rest. Similarly, the “burdens hard to bear” imposed by the teachers of the Law in the time of Jesus had traditions and “commandments of men” that did not come from God.
Life in a world already damaged by evil creates "burdens". But, just as the Lord didn't abandon the Israelites in Egypt to the whims of cruel rulers, the Lord doesn't abandon His children. Jesus came to relieve unnecessary burdens and to restore the most important relationship: that with the Father. He took our burdens on Himself so that we could walk upright with Him.
And the epistles encouraged His followers to put down unnecessary burdens—even the self-imposed ones—that interfere with that walk. And so that we can help and nurture each other.