Your Burden Is Your Assignment

This blog entry is inspired by a statement made by someone for whom my admiration has sky-rocketed over the past decade. (You know who you are, Your Majesty.)

That inspiration was relatively straightforward – your burden is your assignment. By which the meaning is that whatever bugs you and bothers you and pesters you and annoys you might actually be a mission for you to bring some good to the world.

This connection was made in the light of Nehemiah’s situation when he heard the condition of his people as they looked to settle back in their home. Such was their disastrous plight that it brought him to earnest, heartfelt prayer and fasting. Not just asking God to do something and leave it there – but asking God to do something and show him how he can get involved. It was a powerful word delivered with such a sense of a yearning that we too can be so moved by what burdens us that we are drawn to prayer and fasting about the matter to get God’s guidance and direction in being part of the solution.

It reminded me of UMinistries. It’s an initiative run by a friend of mine called Michael Nelson. Seeing the need to reach those on the outside of traditional church walls with the love of Jesus and particularly practically meeting the needs of the worst off in the community, Michael and his wife were moved to do something about it. Responding to that they created an initiative to pursue God in the streets – on the highways and byways if you want – and coming across people from all walks of life. Coming across those who are homeless, those who are hungry, those who don’t understand the system and are left out. Coming across these people and seeking to serve them and also share the gospel of Jesus Christ as they did so. It’s a real pleasure to see people who are moved by a burden to make it their assignment and actively engage in seeking to be a solution in their situation rather than just bemoan the situation and do little about it. I am aware that costs Michael a lot to pursue that – by cost I am referring far more to the emotional, psychological and social weight that comes with such a ministry. It is not simple or straightforward to deal with such a  range of issues. It’s not easy to do that whilst balancing all of life’s other responsibilities. Yet when you recognise that the burden in you leads you to get closer to God to find release in being a response to it – that knowledge that the call of God propels you, is sometimes enough.

I know they are not the only ones who provide this service. I know where I am in Stoke-on-Trent there are great initiatives to reach all kinds of people and situations with the love of Jesus because they recognise the burden in them is their assignment. Being reminded of that challenged me to consider again what the burden is for me.

Presently the overwhelming burden of my heart is for biblical literacy and the thrust of the Kingdom mission. By biblical literacy, I am not referring to being good at reading – as such. I am not talking about being academic. I am talking about a relationship with God that inspires and stimulates a love for His Word and a desire to understand it, appreciate it and apply it where necessary. Where better to apply it than in seeing all of life as an expression and engagement in the spreading and building of the Kingdom of God.

It saddens me when we as believers get caught up in other things and look to manipulate scripture to our own ends. It saddens me that we don’t even have a desire to understand the Word we read. It saddens me that we think it’s right to leave it up to apparent spiritual experts to tell us what to believe and not and inadvertently neglect our responsibility to know God for ourselves through His Word.

It saddens me that we’re more interested in pursuing cultural goals of financial security and material safety than the far greater worth of the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. It saddens me that some look at denominational membership as a far more pressing issue than effectively sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. It saddens me that people are not even bothered about understanding what the Kingdom is and how it should infiltrate every area of life.

That sadness is not designed to defeat me. It is not designated to depress me. As I have known for a bit, the purpose in the sadness is to cry out to God, ask Him to forgive us and then pursue how He wants me to be a part of the solution. I’m grateful to God for the relationships he has brought my way to help me in nurturing and developing my part in the solution. (You know who you are Kevin, Nathan, Albert and Your Majesty.)

Please continue to pray for me and those I know and care for that we will pursue what it is to be burdened with the things of God. To care for the state of our homes, our communities, our villages, towns and cities. To care for the state of God’s church and how it still can be beautiful in functioning as it should within and without.

Thank God for the burden. Thank God for the assignment. (Thank God for you, Your Majesty and Michael Nelson.)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden