Carriers

Do you ever feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders?

Too dramatic?

Okay, have you ever felt like you were the only one who cared about something? Like nobody else understood the importance of an event the way you did? You ever feel like you were carrying the weight of that thing all by yourself?

One of my favorite stories from the Bible is of Moses and his near nervous breakdown.

Moses is stressing out. The people are being obnoxious. They’re constantly whining and complaining. So he does what any reasonable leader would do…

He goes to God and asks to be put out of his misery. Okay, maybe a little extreme. Read the Numbers 11.10-15 to get a sense for Moses’ state of mind:

Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and the Lord became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated. And Moses said to the Lord, “Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? Did I give birth to them? Did I bring them into the world? Why did you tell me to carry them in my arms like a mother carries a nursing baby? How can I carry them to the land you swore to give their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep whining to me, saying, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!

Can’t you feel Moses’ pain? He is overwhelmed by the burden of leading the people. It’s too much weight for one man to bear.

Moses felt like he was the only one carrying the weight. He felt alone. Isolated.

The fact of the matter was he had a staff. His brother and sister were part of his leadership team, yet he still felt like a lone ranger.

What Moses needed was some support. People who could come alongside him and lift up the weight of the job.

Moses needed carriers.

Are you the type of person who helps carry the load for your leader or are you adding weight to an already overloaded leader?

Great carriers:

  • Lighten the load
  • Spread rapidly, infect (rally) others to help the cause
  • Notice what others don’t
  • Carry their weight and then some
  • Understand their role and execute it

 

God helped Moses by providing some extra carriers:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. Bring them to the Tabernacle to stand there with you. I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.” (Numbers 11.16-17)

Ask yourself, what am I currently carrying?

  • A bad attitude
  • Hurt / pain from the past
  • Bitterness
  • Criticism
  • Anger
  • Encouraging words
  • Inspiration
  • A servant’s heart

 

As the leader of our youth ministry I’m always on the lookout for more carriers. Those who can help us reach more students with the good news of Grace.

As a staff member, I’m always looking for ways to help carry the load for my pastor.

How about you? Are you ready to be a carrier?

Well, grab a corner and let’s get moving. There’s work to do.

________

**Note: The inspiration for this post came from reading Pastor Paul Scanlon’s book Crossing Over. Concepts and terms come directly from a chapter entitled God’s Carriers.**

One thought on “Carriers

  1. I have always loved this teaching. The word-picture is so clear… being carriers of the vision, partners in the work of the ministry. Thank you for being an example of this. I’m praying for an infestation of carriers in Live Youth Church & NWLife.

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